Under the Weather, by Lindsay Smail
An almost Australia-wide dry spell during June resulted in the Geelong region recording way-below average rain for the month.
From the Otways to the Bellarine Peninsula, totals fell significantly short of the long-term usual figure for June.
The dry conditions followed other below-average results during May.
Consequently, the levels of the region’s water catchments declined over the course of the month. Total storage finished June at 60.5 per cent of capacity, so the next few weeks might presage a very dry winter.
Urban Geelong generally received 12mm of rain with most areas across the region generally recording less than 20 per cent of their usual June average.
The month finished as the sixth driest June on record. The driest June locally was in 1984 when only 5mm was recorded.
Unlike the rain results, temperatures were close to normal for June.
Minimums averaged 6.4C, which is exactly the mean figure for the month. Maximums averaged 14.7C compared to the long-term figure of 14.5C.
The warmest day for the month reached 17.4C on 20 June.
The coldest day recorded a maximum of just 12C on the 27th, with no frosts recorded, unlike the early days of this month.
June delivered no strong wind gusts, rates as greater than 60km/h, and no storms either.
Neither did June include any thunder days, so it was a very calm month overall, albeit dry.
Otherwise, several mists and fogs were the only notable weather features of the month.
