RAINFALL AND WIND
"A very pleasing start to spring," was how Lindsay Smail of Geelong Weather Services described September rainfalls right across the region. Most parts of the Geelong-Otways region recorded rainfall in excess of 120% of normal September totals. "This sets our earlier prediction of above average spring falls on a very firm footing," he said. Rain fell on 20 days, which is four more than normal. A severe storm occurred on the 30th, which, although it only yielded less than 10 mm of rain generally across the district, included strong winds which damaged roofs, trees and power lines. Winds of 114 kph were reported at Lovely Banks, 111 at Point Wilson and even 75 kph in the Geelong urban area at St Albans Park. A short hail burst occurred at Grovedale and lightning was seen at St Leonards. The squall line occurred as the leading edge of a cold front which crossed Geelong between 4.45 pm and 5.30 pm.
TEMPERATURE
September was warmer than normal. Although the average daily maximum was exactly normal (16.7 degrees), the average minimum was 8.1 compared to the normal 6.8 degrees. This relatively warmer overnight average was mainly a result of some increased cloud cover for the month. The combination of warmer nights and a wet month has led to some remarkable spring growth.
RAINFALL DATA
| GEELONG REGION |
 Location | Total for
Month
(mm) | Monthly
Average
(mm) |
| Aireys Inlet | 84.6 | (71.9) |
| Anakie | 117.5 | (64.0) |
| Anglesea | 69.0 | (70.5) |
| Apollo Bay | 158.0 | (108.6) |
| Ballan | 101.0 | (51.5) |
| Ballarat | 96.6 | (73.0) |
| Bannockburn | 83.9 | (52.0) |
| Barwon Heads | 60.0 | (61.0) |
| Bellbrae | 108.0 | (60.5) |
| Beeac | 108.0 | (59.9) |
| Birregurra | 90.0 | (69.6) |
| Cape Otway | 178.2 | (89.6) |
| Colac | 85.2 | (114.9) |
| Drysdale | 67.0 | (68.6) |
| Forrest (West Barwon) | 153.2 | (130.6) |
| Inverleigh | 63.0 | (51.6) |
| Laverton | 172.2 | (52.8) |
| Lethbridge | 95.2 | (70.4) |
| Lovely Banks | 78.0 | (48.5) |
| Melba Gully | 277.0 | (n.a.) |
| Melbourne (City) | 86.6 | (59.4) |
| Meredith (Darra) | 94.0 | (70.4) |
| Modewarre | 95.5 | (58.9) |
| Paraparap | 96.0 | (58.9) |
| Point Lonsdale | 50.5 | (59.2) |
| Portarlington | n.a. | (59.2) |
| Queenscliff | 71.3 | (59.2) |
| Shelford | n.a. | (54.6) |
| Sheoaks | 100.8 | (n.a.) |
| Skipton | 87.7 | (n.a.) |
| St Leonards | 70.0 | (58.0) |
| Teesdale | 104.5 | (57.7) |
| Torquay | 67.7 | (58.0) |
| Warrnambool Airport | 114.4 | (108.0) |
| Weeaproinah | 275.3 | (200.3) |
| Winchelsea | 94.0 | (54.4) |
| Winchelsea South | 91.0 | (54.4) |
|
 |
| GEELONG SUBURBS |
| Location | Total for
Month
(mm) | Monthly
Average
(mm) |
| Avalon | 57.8 | (46.7) |
| Belmont | 62.0 | (57.7) |
| Bell Park | 68.0 | (55.0) |
| City | 64.0 | (53.2) |
| Cloverdale | 71.5 | (55.6) |
| Corio | 66.0 | (55.6) |
| East Belmont | 65.7 | (55.0) |
| Grovedale | 69.6 | (55.0) |
| Hamlyn Heights | 73.0 | (61.9) |
| Highton | 66.7 | (61.9) |
| Leopold South | 58.0 | (53.8) |
| Manifold Heights | 66.8 | (53.8) |
| Mt Duneed Airport | 66.5 | (53.2) |
| Mt Duneed West | 85.2 | (53.2) |
| Serendip (Lara) | 73.2 | (57.5) |
| St Albans Park | 59.0 | (50.3) |
| Urban Area Average | 65.0 | (53.0) |
|