I was interested in your stats for 2012 published in today's The Courier (Wednesday). My total recorded for 2012 is 715.0ml - well over the average for Ballarat, but still 127ml below what I recorded for 2011.

I have noticed, over the time I have been recording these stats, that there is a significant difference in the rainfall we receive here at Mt Clear than that recorded at the weather station, especially when the weather/rainfall is coming from the north northwest or the south southwest. I find this very interesting, given we at Mt Clear are not a great distance from the Ballarat Airport.

I believe the differences can be explained by the fact that Mt Clear is on the South side of the major Ballarat hump, which appears to top out about Mt Pleasant/Sovereign Hill, with north of this hilltop receiving more rain when it comes in from the north and less when it comes in from the south .

COLIN JOHNSON

Mt Clear