Colin McKenzie recorded 252mm or rain at his Weeaproinah property during May.

MAY was the wettest month of the year so far for Colac but the rain total was still below the monthly average.

The gauge at the Colac Otway Shire Council offices recorded 57.2 millimetres in the past month, less than the May average of 73.5 millimetres.

The highest previous total for 2012 was 54.6 millimetres, in March.

May’s rain brings the year-to-date total to 200 millimetres.

The Bureau of Meteorology’s summary for the month shows rain in the Western District was “generally slightly less than usual”.

The bureau’s gauge at Mount Gellibrand, north-east of Colac, received 47 millimetres for the month, above the 12-year average of 36.3 millimetres.

Cape Otway was just short of the monthly average of 90.4 millimetres – the gauge picked up 83.4 millimetres.

Weeaproinah’s Colin McKenzie said he recorded rain on 25 days of the month.

“For a total of 252 millimetres,” Mr McKenzie said.

“The 12-year average is 165 millimetres,” he said.

Colac rain watcher Evan Robb said he had recorded 898 points for the year so far, or 228 millimetres, below last year’s total at the same time of 1389 points, 352 millimetres.

“The May total was 277 points or 69.25 millimetres,” Mr Robb said.

Colac residents shivered through their coldest May day on record, with the mercury only hitting 9.3 degrees on May 25.

The previous coldest day at a Mount Gellibrand weather station was 9.6 on the May 11 in 2010.

Tags: Weather