Extreme weather

JANUARY was a month of excesses with above average heat and above average rainfall, according to Yarra Valley rainfall recorders.
Frank Foxcroft, of Healesville, recorded 85mm against the average of 78.7mm.
Mr Foxcroft said up until the end of the month, Healesville was heading for a very low rainfall.
“There were only three periods of rain until the last five days with rain on each of them. In the storm on 30 January, I registered 47.2mm, although I’ve heard of others who got more, and others less,” he said.
Mr Foxcroft recorded 96mm more than his 42-year recorded average of 60.56mm.
Fellow rainfall recorder Keith Thomas, of Warburton, said Melbourne’s water storage was suffering from the heat, with 56 per cent capacity with 992,951 litres.
At this time last year, the reserves held 59.1 per cent and in 2004, 57.4 per cent.