Under the Weather, by Lindsay Smail
Geelong was about .5C warmer in September than the latest 30-year average for the month.
Nights were 1.1C warmer but the maximum daily temperatures were fractionally cooler.
Minimums averaged 8.3C, 1.1C above the average, while maximums were 16.9C, .2C below.
The warmest day of the month reached 23.5C on 8 September.
Most of the region received above to well-above average rain, in some cases more than double the latest 30-year average.
Geelong’s southern suburbs were particularly wet, Breakwater recording 125mm and southern Grovedale 150mm. Some of the measurements represented almost all the suburbs’ normal spring rainfall.
Geelong’s northern suburbs were comparatively drier, but still well-above the monthly average.
Overall, it was Geelong’s third wettest September since records began in 1871.
The soaking left the region’s water storages three quarters full at the end of the month in a dramatic rise since August when levels were below 33 per cent.
The downpours produced minor flooding of the Barwon River in Geelong from 14 September which forced closure of the old Breakwater for several days – thank you, VicRoads, for the new bridge!
The heaviest rain was recorded on 14 and 16 September with 35mm and 23mm respectively.
Also notable for the month was a very low pressure system that plunged to 987hPa on 28 September and which stayed low for several days.
– Lindsay Smail operates Geelong Weather Services
