By LINDSAY SMAIL
MOST of the Geelong-Otways region, except its northern area, received average to well-above average rain in May.
The Bureau of Meteorology’s automatic weather station at Breakwater failed three times during the month, thereby missing approximately 20mm of rain and affecting the bureau’s published Geelong total.
The rain for Breakwater, as computed by Geelong Weather Services, for May was 42.4mm, just above the latest 30-year average of 41.5mm.
Mt Sabine, at the head of the Barwon catchment in the Otway Ranges, recorded an amazing 344mm, well above its average.
The region’s water storages were stationary at 57 per cent of capacity when the month ended but the level will need to increase over winter.
As far as autumn overall is concerned, this year’s was drier than the most-recent 30-year average. Geelong received 93mm over autumn compared to its average 109mm. This corresponds with a slowly-drying trend in autumn over the past 30 years.
May was also cooler than the 30-year average but the nights were warmer. Overall the mean May temperature for Geelong was warmer by a mere .2C.
The month’s highest temperature was 22.7C on 2 May and the lowest overnight minimum was 4.4C on the 26th.
The coldest day was 23 May with a maximum of 12.9C.
Autumn overall was cooler by .3C than the latest 30-year average temperature. March and April were cooler and May was warmer.
As for other weather phenomena in May, no storms were recorded but four days had strong wind gusts over 60km/h. The strongest was 74km/h at Breakwater on 11 May.
