Weekend storm in teacup compared to horror of ‘81

Wild weather across the region in the past week was just a storm in a teacup compared to a fatal blast of wind and rain in 1981, according to a leading weatherman.
Geelong Weather Services’ Lindsay Smail said tags on the recent downpour such as “storm of the century” only demonstrated short memories.
Mr Smail said the wet weather, which dumped up to 60mm between Friday and Monday, was severe but not “unusual”.
“A survey of storm events in the Geelong area over the last 40 years shows there have been many others and much worse damage,” he said.
Mr Smail singled out a northerly blast on January 17, 1981, as Geelong’s “worst storm”.
The storm’s lightning killed a golfer sheltering under a tree, flying debris injured several other people and wind to 102km/h damaged homes and capsized yachts on Corio Bay.
The rain was also heaver in 1981, Mr Smail said, dumping 50mm on the city in less than an hour.
The deluge flooded homes “within two minutes”, especially at Belmont and Highton.
“The South Barwon council chambers were badly flooded – it was no coincidence that council very shortly afterward resolved to improve local drainage,” Mr Smail said.
“Given the great damage in 1981, the results of the March, 2010, storm were unspectacular.”