RAINFALL
For just the third time in the last 15 months Geelong has recorded above average rain. March is normally Geelong's driest month with an average of 30 mm but this time we managed to get 35.2mm, said Lindsay Smail of Geelong Weather Services. It was a welcome return after our driest January-February since 1891.

Rain fell on 14 days in March and the heaviest recorded was 8.8mm at 9am on the 15th. The Otway catchments generally had below average rain and the long prior drought has suppressed runoff; consequently Geelong's water capacity is still only at 20%.

TEMPERATURE
Temperatures were slightly cooler (0.25 C) than the long-term average. Daily maximums averaged 22.9C compared to 23.1C and minimums averaged 11.7C compared to 12.0C. There were three days over 30 degrees maximum and the hottest day was the 21st (36.3C). Lowest overnight minimum was 6.1C on the 28th.

OTHER FEATURES
Strong wind gusts over 60kph were experienced on five days and the strongest was 91 kph at Mt Duneed (Geelong AP AWS) on the 3rd. On that day the temperature rose to 32.4C and dust and haze filled the atmosphere for much of the day.

RAINFALL DATA

GEELONG REGION Location Total for Month (mm) Monthly Average (mm) Aireys Inlet 27.6 45.7 Anakie 32.2 35.6 Anglesea na 41.0 Apollo Bay 89.4 69.6 Ballan 49.6 34.0 Ballarat 40.2 44.4 Bannockburn 27.4 39.0 Barwon Heads 23.4 43.0 Bellbrae na 37.7 Bell's Beach na 37.7 Beeac 39.2 40.4 Benwerrin na 65.0 Birregurra 35.4 41.4 Boonah 46.4 64.0 Cape Otway 71.0 55.8 Clifton Springs 36.4 59.0 Colac 31.0 44.2 Cressy 25.2 45.0 Drysdale na 59.4 Durdidwarrah 24.0 53.1 Forrest (West Barwon) 46.8 62.8 Gellibrand 41.0 60.2 Inverleigh na 43.0 Johanna 116.0 110.0 Lal Lal na 54.4 Lavers Hill 117.0 110.0 Laverton 38.6 36.0 Lethbridge na 36.0 Melba Gully 115.0 n.a. Melbourne (City) 47.6 52.0 Meredith (Darra) 39.6 51.6 Moriac na 35.0 Morrisons 28.8 50.8 Mount Cowley 42.0 66.1 Mount Mercer 21.0 50.5 Mount Sabine 36.6 70.2 Ocean Grove 38.8 43.0 Point Lonsdale 30.5 45.6 Pollocksford na 40.6 Portarlington na 45.7 Queenscliff na 44.5 Scotsburn 24.0 58.0 Shelford na 38.0 Sheoaks 27.4 38.0 Skipton 26.2 38.0 St Leonards 41.0 45.0 Teesdale na 45.7 Torquay 43.5 36.0 Weeaproinah 135.2 112.8 Winchelsea na 36.1 You Yangs na 32.0

GEELONG SUBURBS Location Total for Month (mm) Monthly Average (mm) Avalon 32.8 31.0 Bell Park 29.5 37.4 Belmont na 31.9 Ceres na 34.0 City 23.8 30.2 Connewarre na 27.0 Corio 36.4 35.0 Drumcondra na 35.0 Grovedale na 31.7 Grovedale South 30.8 31.7 Hamlyn Heights (1) na 35.0 Hamlyn Heights (2) na 31.9 Lara 25.5 36.6 Lara (Serendip) na 36.6 Leopold 33.0 32.9 Leopold East 33.0 32.5 Manifold Heights 34.7 32.5 Moolap 22.2 32.5 Mt Duneed Airport 35.2 30.3 Mt Duneed West 35.9 30.3 Waurn Ponds 31.2 28.1 Whittington na 32.0 Urban Area Average 30.0 34.6