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Friday, 31 October 2003

MONTHLY CLIMATE SUMMARY - TASMANIA

October 2003 in Tasmania: 

Colder and Drier than Normal

October 2003 was much colder than usual across Tasmania, with many places reporting record low temperatures for October. Rainfall was less than normal for most of the State.

Rainfall

Rainfall was below normal across Tasmania, except on Flinders Island. A few stations reported their lowest October rainfall ever. This is in stark contrast to recent months, where much of the State has had above-normal rain.

Lowest Total Rainfall for October

Total rainfall
for October 2003 (mm) 		Previous lowest
for October 		Years of
record
Woodbridge
32.2
36.4 in 1959
53
Westbury
15.6
22.2 in 1982
26
Blackmans Bay
19.2
22.0 in 1982
22
Bull Bay
15.6
40.8 in 1997
21
Tea Tree
19.0
35.6 in 1999
18
South Arm
20.6
29.0 in 1997
11

Maximum temperatures

There were very few days when the temperature was above normal during October - these being around the 14th to the 18th. Averaged over the whole month, daytime temperatures were well below normal across the State, typically by between 1 and 2 degrees. A number of sites recorded their lowest, or equal lowest, mean daily maximum temperature for October.

Lowest Mean Maximum Temperature for October

Mean daily maximum
temperature
for October 2003 (°C) 		Previous lowest
for October 		Years of
record
Maatsuyker Island
11.7
11.9 in 1998
65
Bicheno
16.0
16.4 in 1992
29
Launceston
16.4
16.9 in 1998
21
Tarraleah
11.5
11.6 in 1988
21
Swan Island
14.3
14.7 in 1995
20
Fingal
15.4
16.0 in 1986
18
Geeveston
14.7
= 14.7 in 1998
17
Wynyard Airport
14.9
15.1 in 1998
16
Dover
14.8
14.9 in 1998
14
Lake Leake
12.0
12.5 in 1998
14
Bull Bay
14.7
15.3 in 1995
13
Lake St Clair
10.3
10.7 in 1998
13
Devonport Airport
14.6
14.9 in 1998
12
Ross
15.4
15.7 in 1998
11


Not only were there very few warm days, but there were also a number of quite cold ones. The 9th and 10th were especially cold, with a number of stations seeing their coldest-ever October day. 

Lowest Daily Maximum Temperature for October

Lowest daily maximum
temperature
for October 2003 (°C) 		Previous lowest
for October 		Years of
record
Fingal
9.5 on 10/Oct/03
10.0 on 05/Oct/90
18
Geeveston
7.9 on 09/Oct/03
8.6 on 01/Oct/00
17
Lake Leake
5.8 on 10/Oct/03
6.1 on 11/Oct/90
14
Dover
8.8 on 09/Oct/03
9.4 on 10/Oct/93
14
Lake St Clair
3.0 on 09/Oct/03
3.7 on 20/Oct/92
13
Maydena
5.2 on 09/Oct/03
7.9 on 19/Oct/98
12
Devonport Airport
11.0 on 01/Oct/03
12.0 on 10/Oct/00
12

At a number of sites, it was the second-coldest October on record. At others (including Hobart) it was the coldest since 1976.

Swansea had the mildest days on average for October, with a mean daily maximum temperature of 16.7°C. Mount Wellington was the coldest spot on average, with a mean daily maximum temperature of 5.3°C.

The highest temperature recorded during October was 26.6°C at Bushy Park on the 18th. At the other extreme, the temperature did not exceed -1.7°C on Mount Wellington on the 10th.

Minimum temperatures

There were very few nights when the minimum temperature was warmer than usual and there were a number of quite cold nights.  As a result, average night-time (minimum) temperatures were well below normal across the State, typically by between 1 and 2 degrees. A number of sites, some with quite long record, achieved new lowest mean daily minimum temperatures for October, or equalled their old record.

Lowest Mean Minimum Temperature for October

Mean daily minimum
temperature
for October 2003 (°C) 		Previous lowest
for October 		Years of
record
Bushy Park
3.3
4.3 in 1972
68
Launceston Airport
3.9
= 3.9 in 1976
65
Strathgordon
3.9
4.1 in 1970
34
Marrawah
7.0
= 7.0 in 1995
31
Bicheno
7.1
7.4 in 1995
29
Port Arthur
6.0
6.2 in 1995
22
Launceston
5.0
5.8 in 1995
21
Scamander
6.2
7.6 in 2000
20
Swan Island
8.9
9.2 in 1989
20
Fingal
3.1
4.1 in 1995
18
Wynyard Airport
4.6
= 4.6 in 1998
17
Dover
4.9
5.3 in 1995
14
Bull Bay
6.6
7.0 in 1995
13
Lake Leake
2.0
2.6 in 1995
13
Devonport Airport
6.1
6.3 in 1993
12
Powranna
3.9
4.3 in 1995
12
Ross
2.9
4.0 in 1995
11


A number of sites had their second-lowest mean October minimum temperature. At Hobart, which has over 121 years of record, it was the lowest since 1962.

Swan Island had the mildest nights on average during October, with a mean daily minimum temperature of 8.9°. Mount Wellington was the coldest place, with a mean daily minimum temperature of just  -1.4°C.

Some sites had their lowest October temperature on record (for an individual day).

Lowest Daily Minimum Temperature for October

Lowest daily minimum
temperature
for October 2003 (°C) 		Previous lowest
for October 		Years of
record
Bicheno
0.7 on 9/Oct/2003
1.6 on 12/Oct/1994
29
Scamander
0.1 on 9/Oct/2003
0.4 on 12/Oct/1987
20
Swan Island
2.8 on 11/Oct/2003
4.3 on 11/Oct/2000
20
Fingal
-3.8 on 9/Oct/2003
-3.1 on 21/Oct/1995
18
Wynyard Airport
-1.4 on 9/Oct/2003
-1.2 on 3/Oct/1962
17

The lowest temperature recorded during September was -6.1°C on Mount Wellington on the morning of the 11th.

Wind

In contrast to a windy September, strong winds were less prevalent than normal during October.


Summary statistics for selected sites for October


 Maximum temperatures (°C)
for October		 Minimum temperatures (°C)
for October		 Rainfall (mm)
for October
Mean for 2003 Difference from normal Highest for 2003 Mean for 2003 Difference from normal Lowest for 2003 Total for 2003 Normal total
Hobart
15.5
-1.4
25.0
6.8
-1.0
2.4
20
63
Launceston
16.4
-1.6
21.0
5.0
-2.0
0.0
24
57
Burnie
15.0
-0.8
18.3
7.0
-0.9
2.2
37
90
Devonport Airport
14.6
-1.1
17.2
6.1
-1.2
0.5
20
68
Swansea
16.7
-1.0
25.2
5.9
-1.3
1.2
28
54
Strathgordon
11.6
-1.8
23.1
3.9
-1.5
0.2
244
253
King Island Airport
14.1

22.5
7.6

2.5
70
79
Flinders Island Airport
15.2
-1.5
23.8
7.7
-0.8
1.7
57
62
Bicheno
16.0
-1.4
19.5
7.1
-1.4
0.7
42
56
Bridport
15.6

19.8
6.5

1.0
46

Bull Bay
14.7
-1.7
22.5
6.6
-1.5
2.3
16
62
Bushy Park
16.6
-1.0
26.6
3.3
-2.5
-1.0
22
58
Cape Bruny
13.2
-1.2
20.8
7.4
-0.5
2.8
58
84
Cape Grim
13.2

17.0
8.2

5.0
44

Dover
14.8
-1.4
24.8
4.9
-1.6
0.2
33
89
Fingal
15.4
-2.0
22.2
3.1
-1.9
-3.8
36
56
Geeveston
14.7
-1.5
25.6
4.8
-1.2
-0.6
63
94
Grove
15.4
-1.4
25.6
4.1
-1.5
-0.6
38
72
Hobart Airport
15.6
-1.6
24.7
6.4
-1.1
1.7
16
49
Lake Leake
12.0
-1.7
18.9
2.0
-1.7
-2.3
36
78
Lake St Clair
10.3
-2.3
20.0
0.7
-1.2
-2.7
152
183
Launceston Airport
15.0
-1.3
20.4
3.9
-1.7
-2.1
28
62
Maatsuyker Island
11.7
-1.5
21.2
6.7
-0.7
2.3
73
108
Marrawah
13.9
-1.0
18.0
7.0
-1.1
3.5
61
92
Maydena
14.1
-1.5
24.6
3.8
-0.9
0.2
111

Moogara
11.9

22.0
2.6

-1.0
55
85
Mount Wellington
5.3
-1.6
16.2
-1.4
-1.5
-6.1
63
68
Orford
16.2
-1.2
23.5
6.3
-0.9
1.0
25
62
Port Arthur
13.2
-1.1
22.0
6.0
-1.2
2.5
56
106
Powranna
16.0
-1.0
21.0
3.9
-1.6
-1.0
27

Ross
15.4
-1.3
20.9
2.9
-2.3
-2.1
19

Scamander
15.5
-2.0
21.8
6.2
-1.9
0.1
32
61
Scottsdale
15.0
-1.4
19.7
4.6
-1.3
0.0
51
90
Strahan Aerodrome
14.5
-1.3
25.7
6.0
-1.2
1.8
68
130
Swan Island
14.3
-1.1
17.8
8.9
-1.1
2.8
45
56
Tarraleah
11.5
-2.0
21.8
1.6
-1.6
-2.7
101
112
Wynyard Airport
14.9
-1.1
19.0
4.6
-1.5
-1.4
52
104

Figures are based on available data at 31 October 2003 and are subject to confirmation. In particular, maximum temperature statistics have not counted the last day of the month, although its inclusion is not expected to make major changes. “Normals” are based on all available records, which vary in length from site to site.


Further Information

Climate and Consultancy Section
Tasmania and Antarctica Regional Office
Bureau of Meteorology
Phone (03) 6221 2043
Email climate.tas@bom.gov.au

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