Friday, 8 January 2021 - Annual Climate Summary for Tasmania - Product code IDCKGC57R0
Tasmania in 2020: Drier in the west and south, wetter in the east and warmer nights everywhere
Annual rainfall was below average for parts of the western half of Tasmania and the south, but was above average for much of the north-east. Days were warmer than usual in the south-west but close to average elsewhere, whilst nights were warmer than usual across the state and especially so in the north-east.
A wet year for much of the east but parts of the west and south miss out
- It was a typical start to the year for rainfall with close to average totals in most parts during January and February.
- Tasmania had its wettest autumn since 1975 with a very wet March in the north-east followed by the 9th wettest April on record for Tasmania. April, May and December were the only months of 2020 with large areas of above average rainfall in the west.
- Winter was very dry in the north-west thanks to the 2nd driest July on record for Tasmania, conversely seasonal rainfall was very much above average in the south-east due to a very wet June and August.
- Whilst October was very wet in the east, November was the 9th driest on record for the state, resulting in a drier than average spring for the west and south, and close to average seasonal rainfall for the east.
- Tasmania's total rainfall for the year was 5% below average.
- Annual rainfall was in the lowest 10% of records for the far south, and in the highest 10% of records for parts of the north-east coast.
- Several sites had their highest daily rainfall on record.
- Melton Mowbray (North Stockman) had its highest total rainfall on record.
Warmer than average nights for much of the year, with warmer winter and spring days making up for a cooler autumn
- A very hot air mass late in January delivered Hobart Airport its highest temperature on record, which turned out to be Tasmania's hottest day in 2020.
- Mean maximum temperatures were cooler than average for much of Tasmania from February to April, and generally warmer than average from June to November (4th warmest November days on record).
- Mean minimum temperatures were warmer than average in January, then close to average until a very warm April (5th warmest April nights on record) and were mostly warmer than average from August to November (5th warmest November nights on record).
- A complex low pressure system and cold front crossing southern Australia gave a couple of sites their lowest temperature on record, and Launceston even got some snow.
- Tasmania's mean temperature (a combination of the maximum and minimum temperatures) for the year was 0.20 °C above average but the lowest since 2015.
- Tasmania's mean maximum temperature for the year was only 0.06 °C above average and the lowest since 2006.
- Tasmania's mean minimum temperature for the year was 0.33 °C above average, the warmest since 2018.
- Even though it was a warmer than average year for maximum temperatures for Tasmania overall, Cressy Research Station had its equal lowest mean daily maximum temperature on record and Ross (The Boulevards) had its lowest mean daily maximum temperature since 1996.
Hobart (Ellerslie Road)
- Total rainfall for Hobart (Ellerslie Road) was 656.2 mm, which is 107% of the long-term average of 612.2 mm.
- Monthly rainfall was mixed; Hobart recorded around double its average rainfall during August and October (9th highest on record) but less than half its average rainfall during February, May, July (4th driest on record), and November (6th driest on record).
- Hobart's highest daily rainfall was 46.2 mm recorded on 5 August.
- kunanyi (Mount Wellington Pinnacle) had its wettest winter on record with 558.6 mm due to a very wet June and August.
- The mean daily maximum temperature for Hobart (Ellerslie Road) was 17.7 °C, which is 0.7 °C above the long-term average of 17.0 °C.
- The warmest day was 40.4 °C on 31 January, and the coolest day was on 10 July when the temperature reached 8.6 °C.
- The mean daily minimum temperature for Hobart (Ellerslie Road) was 9.1 °C, which is 0.7 °C above the long-term average of 8.4 °C.
- The coldest morning was 0.4 °C on 10 August, and the warmest morning was on 15 December when the minimum temperature was 20.7 °C.
Further information
- Media
- media@bom.gov.au (03) 9669 4057
Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top
Extremes in 2020 | |
---|---|
Hottest day |
41.4 °C at Hobart Airport on 31 Jan |
Warmest days on average |
18.5 °C at Launceston (Ti Tree Bend) |
Coolest days on average |
8.1 °C at kunanyi (Mount Wellington Pinnacle) |
Coldest day |
-1.9 °C at kunanyi (Mount Wellington Pinnacle) on 3 Aug |
Coldest night |
-14.2 °C at Liawenee on 7 Aug |
Coolest nights on average |
1.5 °C at kunanyi (Mount Wellington Pinnacle) |
Warmest nights on average |
11.5 °C at Swan Island |
Warmest night |
21.4 °C at Campania (Kincora) on 1 Feb |
Warmest on average overall |
14.2 °C at Swan Island |
Coolest on average overall |
4.8 °C at kunanyi (Mount Wellington Pinnacle) |
Wettest overall |
3528.8 mm at Mount Read |
Wettest day |
184.4 mm at Mountain River on 23 Jun |
Strongest wind gust |
161 km/h at Maatsuyker Island Lighthouse on 2 Dec |
Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top
Maps | |||
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Observed | Anomaly | Decile rank | |
Total rainfall |
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Mean daily maximum temperatures |
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Mean daily minimum temperatures |
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Monthly maps | |||
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Rainfall rank | Maximum temperature rank | Minimum temperature rank | |
January |
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February |
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March |
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April |
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May |
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June |
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July |
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August |
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September |
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October |
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November |
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December |
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Record highest daily rainfall | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
New record (mm) |
Old record |
Years of record |
||||
Woodbury (Warringa Old Tier Road) | 73.0 | on 5 Aug | 60.0 | on 16 Jul 1986 | 49 | |
Ross (Macquarie River) | 67.8 | on 5 Aug | 67.2 | on 31 Aug 2005 | 27 | |
Southport (Huon Highway) | 145.0 | on 28 Sep | 104.4 | on 13 Apr 2011 | 27 | |
Woodlea Nursery | 110.4 | on 6 Mar | 104.8 | on 6 Jun 2016 | 24 | |
Scotts Peak Dam | 75.0 | on 2 May | 62.4 | on 27 Sep 2009 | 23 |
Record highest annual total rainfall | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
New record (mm) |
Old record |
Years of record |
Annual average |
||
Melton Mowbray (North Stockman) | 612.2 | 597.0 | in 2009 | 24 | 453.1 |
Record highest temperature | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
New record (°C) |
Old record |
Years of record |
Annual average |
|||
Hobart Airport | 41.4 | on 31 Jan | 40.8 | on 30 Dec 2019 | 63 | 17.6 |
kunanyi (Mount Wellington Pinnacle) | 29.8 | on 31 Jan | = 29.8 | on 14 Jan 2014 | 42 | 7.9 |
Maydena Post Office | 38.2 | on 31 Jan | 37.3 | on 2 Mar 2019 | 29 | 16.2 |
Hartz Mountain (Keoghs Pimple) | 35.2 | on 31 Jan | 34.9 | on 14 Jan 2014 | 25 | 11.5 |
Record lowest annual mean daily maximum temperature | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
New record (°C) |
Old record |
Years of record |
Annual average |
||
Cressy Research Station | 17.7 | = 17.7 | in 2011 | 20 | 18.2 |
Lowest annual mean daily maximum temperature for at least 20 years | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Observed (°C) |
Most recent lower |
Annual average |
|||
Ross (The Boulevards) | 17.1 | 15.9 | in 1996 | 17.8 |
Record lowest temperature | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
New record (°C) |
Old record |
Years of record |
Annual average |
|||
King Island Airport | -1.2 | on 17 Jul | -0.7 | on 18 Sep 2019 | 26 | 10.0 |
Hartz Mountain (Keoghs Pimple) | -4.4 | on 4 Aug | = -4.4 | on 11 Aug 2005 | 25 | 4.0 |
Mount Read | -5.5 | on 4 Aug | -5.3 | on 28 Aug 2018 | 25 | 2.8 |
Liawenee | -14.2 | on 7 Aug | -12.2 | on 9 Jul 2013 | 20 | 1.6 |
Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top
Summary statistics for 2020 | ||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Maximum temperatures (°C) |
Minimum temperatures (°C) |
Rainfall (millimetres) |
||||||||||
Mean for 2020 |
Diff from average |
Highest for 2020 |
Mean for 2020 |
Diff from average |
Lowest for 2020 |
Total for 2020 |
Average annual total |
Rank of 2020 |
Fraction of annual average |
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Northern (district 91) | ||||||||||||
Cape Grim | 15.3 | 26.8 | 30 Jan | 10.3 | 1.5 | 4 Aug | 858.6 | 889.3 | average | 97% | ||
Cape Grim BAPS (Comparison) | 15.4 | -0.3 | 27.3 | 30 Jan | 10.3 | -0.3 | 1.6 | 4 Aug | 909.0 | 794.6 | average | 114% |
Cressy Research Station | 17.7 | -0.5 | 36.1 | 31 Jan | 6.1 | +0.3 | -4.0 | 7 Jun | 634.8 | 593.2 | average | 107% |
Devonport Airport | 17.1 | +0.1 | 29.8 | 31 Jan | 8.6 | +0.3 | -0.9 | 1 Sep | 713.1 | 763.5 | average | 93% |
Launceston (Ti Tree Bend) | 18.5 | -0.1 | 35.9 | 31 Jan | 7.7 | +0.3 | -2.8 | 9 Jun | 833.0 | 684.1 | v high | 122% |
Launceston Airport | 17.4 | -0.8 | 37.1 | 31 Jan | 6.5 | +0.2 | -3.7 | 7 Jun | 804.4 | 627.9 | high | 128% |
Low Head | 16.3 | -0.4 | 26.3 | 12 Feb | 10.4 | -0.2 | 1.5 | 6 Aug | 732.2 | 677.8 | average | 108% |
Luncheon Hill (Forestry) | 15.2 | -0.4 | 31.8 | 30 Jan | 7.5 | -0.1 | -1.1 | 4 Aug | 1235.4 | 1499.9 | lowest | 82% |
Marrawah | 16.0 | -0.2 | 29.0 | 30 Jan | 9.3 | -0.1 | 1.4 | 4 Aug | 1076.6 | 1075.2 | average | 100% |
Scottsdale (West Minstone Road) | 16.9 | -0.4 | 36.6 | 31 Jan | 7.4 | +0.2 | -0.5 | 1 Sep | 1000.4 | 966.8 | average | 103% |
Sheffield School Farm | 15.8 | -0.4 | 31.6 | 31 Jan | 6.6 | -0.2 | -1.9 | 22 Aug | ||||
Smithton Aerodrome | 17.1 | -0.2 | 28.1 | 31 Jan | 7.6 | -0.1 | -3.2 | 10 Aug | 893.4 | 912.8 | average | 98% |
Wynyard Airport | 17.0 | -0.1 | 29.8 | 15 Dec | 7.5 | +0.4 | -2.2 | 7 Jun | 917.8 | 973.7 | average | 94% |
East Coast (district 92) | ||||||||||||
Fingal (Legge Street) | 17.5 | -0.4 | 38.4 | 31 Jan | 5.9 | +0.6 | -6.3 | 9 Jun | ||||
Friendly Beaches | 18.4 | -0.2 | 38.5 | 30 Jan | 9.2 | -0.2 | -0.7 | 9 Jun | 860.8 | 675.4 | high | 127% |
Lake Leake (Elizabeth River) | 13.9 | -0.1 | 35.0 | 31 Jan | 4.5 | +0.4 | -6.1 | 9 Jun | 857.5 | 820.7 | average | 104% |
Maria Island (Point Lesueur) | 16.4 | -0.7 | 32.2 | 30 Jan | 10.4 | -0.1 | 2.5 | 5 Aug | 604.6 | 518.1 | high | 117% |
Orford (Aubin Court) | 17.5 | -0.1 | 37.5 | 30 Jan | 8.2 | +0.3 | -1.0 | 9 Jun | 810.7 | 667.2 | high | 122% |
St Helens Aerodrome | 17.8 | -0.3 | 36.1 | 30 Jan | 9.1 | +0.1 | 0.1 | 9 Jun | 872.2 | 677.6 | high | 129% |
Swan Island | 16.9 | -0.3 | 25.7 | 22 Jan | 11.5 | -0.1 | 3.1 | 5 Aug | 426.6 | 638.4 | v low | 67% |
Swansea (Francis Street) | 17.7 | 38.1 | 30 Jan | 8.2 | -1.6 | 8 Jul | 638.6 | |||||
Midlands (district 93) | ||||||||||||
Ross (The Boulevards) | 17.1 | -0.7 | 37.6 | 31 Jan | 5.5 | -0.2 | -7.0 | 7 Jun | 640.0 | 489.1 | v high | 131% |
Southeast (district 94) | ||||||||||||
Campania (Kincora) | 18.1 | -0.6 | 40.7 | 31 Jan | 7.5 | +0.1 | -1.8 | 12 Jun | 590.4 | 488.7 | high | 121% |
Cape Bruny (Cape Bruny) | 16.1 | 0.0 | 39.3 | 31 Jan | 9.1 | -0.2 | 2.9 | 8 Jul | 764.8 | 765.2 | average | 100% |
Cape Bruny Lighthouse | 15.5 | +0.6 | 36.9 | 31 Jan | 9.4 | +0.5 | 1.7 | 31 Aug | 710.8 | 935.1 | v low | 76% |
Dennes Point | 16.7 | 37.4 | 31 Jan | 9.3 | 1.3 | 4 Aug | 606.2 | |||||
Dover | 16.7 | +0.1 | 39.0 | 31 Jan | 6.7 | -0.2 | -1.5 | 10 Aug | 761.2 | 875.8 | low | 87% |
Dunalley (Stroud Point) | 16.9 | 37.2 | 31 Jan | 9.8 | 1.3 | 5 Aug | 675.2 | |||||
Grove (Research Station) | 17.3 | -0.4 | 39.5 | 31 Jan | 5.9 | +0.1 | -4.0 | 10 Aug | 803.6 | 726.4 | average | 111% |
Hobart (Ellerslie Road) | 17.7 | +0.7 | 40.4 | 31 Jan | 9.1 | +0.7 | 0.4 | 10 Aug | 656.2 | 612.2 | average | 107% |
Hobart Airport | 17.7 | +0.1 | 41.4 | 31 Jan | 8.6 | +0.4 | -0.1 | 12 Jun | 604.0 | 490.7 | high | 123% |
kunanyi (Mount Wellington Pinnacle) | 8.1 | +0.2 | 29.8 | 31 Jan | 1.5 | +0.1 | -7.2 | 4 Aug | 1339.4 | 899.5 | high | 149% |
Maatsuyker Island Lighthouse | 13.8 | -0.1 | 34.1 | 31 Jan | 8.9 | +0.2 | 1.9 | 4 Aug | 972.6 | 1223.3 | low | 80% |
Melton Mowbray (North Stockman) | 16.8 | -0.7 | 39.2 | 31 Jan | 6.0 | 0.0 | -4.0 | 9 Aug | 612.2 | 453.1 | highest | 135% |
Tunnack Fire Station | 14.9 | -0.5 | 35.2 | 31 Jan | 5.2 | +0.1 | -4.2 | 9 Aug | 853.6 | 621.0 | high | 137% |
Derwent Valley (district 95) | ||||||||||||
Bushy Park (Bushy Park Estates) | 18.1 | +0.3 | 38.7 | 31 Jan | 5.8 | -0.1 | -4.1 | 10 Aug | 575.4 | 571.0 | average | 101% |
Ouse Fire Station | 17.7 | -0.7 | 40.6 | 31 Jan | 5.4 | -0.2 | -6.3 | 11 Aug | 542.2 | 524.0 | average | 103% |
Central Plateau (district 96) | ||||||||||||
Butlers Gorge | 13.0 | +0.1 | 33.7 | 31 Jan | 3.2 | +0.2 | -7.8 | 10 Aug | 1508.0 | 1675.0 | average | 90% |
Liawenee | 11.7 | -0.5 | 29.6 | 30 Jan | 1.7 | +0.1 | -14.2 | 7 Aug | 828.0 | 916.2 | average | 90% |
West Coast (district 97) | ||||||||||||
Cape Sorell | 15.9 | +0.8 | 28.0 | 10 Nov | 9.9 | +0.4 | 1.6 | 4 Aug | 1077.0 | 1311.8 | low | 82% |
Low Rocky Point | 15.4 | 36.8 | 31 Jan | 9.2 | 0.2 | 4 Aug | ||||||
Scotts Peak Dam | 15.0 | -0.1 | 38.3 | 31 Jan | 6.1 | -0.1 | -1.6 | 4 Aug | 1935.0 | 1929.7 | average | 100% |
Strahan Aerodrome | 16.7 | +0.1 | 38.2 | 31 Jan | 8.0 | 0.0 | -2.8 | 7 Aug | 1533.0 | 1561.5 | average | 98% |
Warra | 13.4 | -0.5 | 37.4 | 31 Jan | 5.6 | +0.3 | -3.1 | 4 Aug | 1443.6 | 1736.1 | v low | 83% |
King Island (district 98) | ||||||||||||
King Island Airport | 16.9 | -0.1 | 30.9 | 31 Jan | 9.8 | -0.2 | -1.2 | 17 Jul | 871.6 | 854.4 | average | 102% |
Flinders Island (district 99) | ||||||||||||
Flinders Island Airport | 17.8 | 0.0 | 38.5 | 31 Jan | 10.2 | +0.4 | -0.9 | 7 Aug | 737.6 | 740.8 | average | 100% |
Hogan Island | 16.9 | -0.4 | 33.0 | 30 Jan | 11.4 | -0.4 | 3.0 | 5 Aug | 626.0 | 633.7 | average | 99% |
Note: From 2017, information about Macquarie Island can be found in the climate summary for the Remote Islands and Antarctica |
Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top
Notes
The Annual climate summary, generally published on the second working day of the year, lists the main features of the weather in Tasmania using the most timely and accurate information available on the date of publication; it will generally not be updated. More extensive discussion of significant weather events, along with later information and data that has had greater opportunity for quality control, will be presented in the Monthly Weather Review.
This statement has been prepared based on information available at 10 am on Monday 4 January 2021. Some checks have been made on the data, but it is possible that results will change as new information becomes available.
In some situations, some or all of the rainfall is in the form of hail or snow. In these cases the totals given are for the water equivalent: the depth of liquid water that results from melting any frozen precipitation. There can be significant 'undercatch' of snow in strong winds, meaning the true precipitation can be higher than that reported.
Averages for individual sites are long-term means based on observations from
all available years of record, which vary widely from site to site.
They are not shown for sites with less than 10 years of record, as they cannot then be calculated reliably.
The median
is sometimes more representative than the
mean
of long-term average rain.
The Rank indicates how rainfall this time compares with the climate record for the site,
based on the
decile ranking
(very low rainfall is in decile 1, low in decile 2 or 3,
average in decile 4 to 7, high in decile 8 or 9
and very high is in decile 10).
The Fraction of average shows how much rain has fallen this time as a
percentage of the long-term mean.
Where temperature area averages are mentioned, they are derived from the ACORN-SAT dataset.
Further information
- Media
- media@bom.gov.au (03) 9669 4057