dec00
RAINFALL
"Well below average" is how Lindsay Smail, Director of Geelong Weather Services describes rainfall totals for December, 2000. "It's not a very auspicious way to end the year, the century or the millennium," he said. "Most places in the region only received about half their normal falls."
Despite the poor end to the year and the projected dry summer ahead, average rainfalls across the district were mainly in the range of 95% to 100% for the year. If it had not been for the remarkable spring downpours the outlook would have been very gloomy.
TEMPERATURE and OTHER FEATURES
Geelong was 0.2 degrees warmer than normal in December. Despite this, there was a notable cold outbreak between the 27th and 30th, when maximum temperatures only reached 16-18 degrees. Light hail was recorded on the 27th. There was one thunder day and several days of strong winds, including gusts of over 80 kph at Leopold on the 21st.
RAINFALL DATA
| GEELONG REGION |
 Location | Total for
Month
(mm) | Monthly
Average
(mm) |
| Aireys Inlet | 20.4 | 40.1 |
| Anakie | 19.8 | 55.0 |
| Anglesea | 20.5 | 48.0 |
| Apollo Bay | 45.6 | 63.6 |
| Bacchus Marsh | 15.0 | 42.2 |
| Ballan | 21.0 | 45.9 |
| Ballarat | 22.0 | 52.5 |
| Bannockburn | 18.5 | 42.0 |
| Barwon Heads | 25.5 | 47.0 |
| Bellbrae | 26.0 | 54.0 |
| Beeac | 17.0 | 42.4 |
| Birregurra | 25.8 | 43.4 |
| Cape Otway | 51.0 | 52.7 |
| Colac | 14.8 | 46.6 |
| Drysdale | 18.0 | 44.7 |
| Forrest (West Barwon) | 58.4 | 73.0 |
| Inverleigh | 14.0 | 45.5 |
| Laverton | 15.0 | 47.0 |
| Lethbridge | 23.0 | 55.9 |
| Melba Gully | 80.0 | n.a. |
| Melbourne (City) | 34.2 | 59.0 |
| Meredith (Darra) | 18.4 | 51.8 |
| Modewarre | 23.2 | 45.0 |
| Paraparap | 13.0 | 43.2 |
| Point Lonsdale | 22.6 | 45.0 |
| Portarlington | 12.5 | 45.5 |
| Queenscliff | 25.1 | 43.4 |
| Shelford | | 45.0 |
| St Leonards | 23.5 | 45.0 |
| Sheoaks | 24.6 | 42.0 |
| Teesdale | 24.0 | 39.9 |
| Torquay | 23.2 | 40.0 |
| Wallington | | 55.6 |
| Warrnambool Airport | 24.0 | 69.4 |
| Weeaproinah | 92.8 | 112.9 |
| Werribee | | 44.5 |
| Winchelsea | 20.0 | 41.1 |
| Wurdi Boluc | 18.5 | 42.0 |
|
 |
| GEELONG SUBURBS |
| Location | Total for
Month
(mm) | Monthly
Average
(mm) |
| Avalon | 9.4 | 49.0 |
| Bell Park | 16.0 | 47.8 |
| Belmont | 17.0 | 44.0 |
| City | 14.0 | 43.7 |
| Cloverdale | 12.5 | 45.0 |
| Connewarre | 17.6 | 52.1 |
| Corio | 13.9 | 45.0 |
| East Belmont | 18.7 | 44.0 |
| Grovedale | 21.6 | 44.2 |
| Hamlyn Heights | 14.0 | 57.0 |
| Highton | 14.4 | 44.2 |
| Lara | 11.7 | 41.9 |
| Lara (Serendip) | 9.3 | 41.9 |
| Leopold | 16.0 | 63.9 |
| Leopold South | 17.1 | 63.9 |
| Manifold Heights | 13.5 | 47.8 |
| Mt Duneed Airport | 17.2 | 42.2 |
| Mt Duneed West | 20.6 | 42.2 |
| Norlane | 13.0 | 47.9 |
| St Albans Park | 15.4 | 43.7 |
| Urban Area Average | 16.0 | 44.9 |
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