Monday, 2 May 2005

MEDIA STATEMENT

Warm nights in Tasmania

The last two nights have seen record-breaking warmth in Tasmania, especially in the southeast of the State. Minimum temperatures have typically been 5 to 10 degrees above the May normal on both nights, with overnight temperatures in the mid-teens common. Several long-standing records have been broken, including one of 123 years at Hobart.

Record Highest Daily Minimum Temperature for May

Highest daily minimum
temperature
in May 2005 (°C) 		Previous highest
for May 		Years of
record		 Long-term
average
minimum
for May
Hobart 16.2
on 4th
 16.1
on 2nd in 1889
 123 6.9
Grove 17.7
on 5th
 15.7
on 11th in 1969
 50 4.2
Hobart Airport 16.0
on 5th
 15.1
on 4th in 1982
 47 6.5
Tarraleah Village 11.5
on 4th
 11.0
on 2nd in 1997
 22 2.3
Geeveston 14.1
on 4th
 13.4
on 28th in 1998
 19 4.4

Hobart Airport actually broke the previous record twice. On the 4th, it recorded a new record high minimum temperature of 15.2 °C, but it exceeded that with 16.0 °C on the 5th.

Several other sites (Dover, Maydena, Ross, Moogara and King Island Airport) also had record high minima, although they have relatively few years of observations.

Tarraleah had its warmest-ever May day on the 4th, with a maximum of 22.0 °C exceeding the previous highest of 21.0 °C (on the 1st in 1985).

Warm air has been carried from the mainland across Tasmania over the last few days. Persistent strong winds and generally cloudy skies have prevented the temperature from dropping away much overnight. A cold front is crossing Tasmania today, bringing cooler conditions.

Further information

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

Forecasts and current observations

Regional Forecasting Centre
Phone (03) 6221 2000 (24 hours)
Or on the web at www.bom.gov.au/weather/tas/