Tuesday, 6 January 2015 - Annual Climate Summary for Tasmania - Product code IDCKGC57R0

Tasmania in 2014: a warm and dry year

Temperatures were above average across Tasmania during 2014, with daytimes especially warm. Rainfall was below average in almost all areas, with especially dry conditions on parts of the East Coast.

• State-wide mean maximum temperature highest on record
• Above-average daytime temperatures in most areas in most months, especially in winter and spring
• Overnight temperatures average or above most of the time
• Below-average rain overall, especially in the east
• Above-average rain in July, but most months relatively dry
• Several days of strong and damaging winds

Tasmania had another warm year in 2014: the statewide mean temperature was 0.80 °C above the 1961 to 1990 average, the second-highest since comparable records began in 1910 and the eighth consecutive above-average year. Daytime temperatures were especially warm, with the statewide mean maximum temperature the highest on record at 1.09 °C above average. A number of sites (including Hobart, Launceston and Devonport) had their highest mean daily maximum on record. There were several spells of warm weather, and although the hottest days were early in the year (peaking at 40.2 °C at Bushy Park on 14 January) the months from June to September were well above their respective averages. Overnight temperatures were also relatively mild, with the state-wide mean minimum temperature 0.52 °C above average. There was also plenty of cold weather, with Liawenee dipping to -8.7 °C on 9 June and -8.1 °C on 15 September. Several cold outbreaks brought snow to low levels, and there were below-average minimum temperatures during August, but overall warm weather dominated over colder weather.

Most months were relatively dry (the main exception being a generally wet July), and totals for the year were well down across the State. The East Coast was especially dry, and although there were few outright records several stations came close to having their driest year on record. Even in the generally wet west, rainfall was below average. The statewide mean rainfall of 1164 mm was 16% below average.

Strong and damaging winds were a feature of 2014. There were exceptionally strong winds in the first week of the year, and on 9 February gusts well in excess of 100 km/h caused widespread damage across the south. The strongest gust reported during the year was 174 km/h at Maatsuyker Island on 29 July, during a period of exceptionally strong winds in many parts of the State.

Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top

Notable events in 2014

• Exceptionally strong and damaging winds in the south between 1 and 6 January, and again on 28 January
• Several spells of warm to hot weather in January, February and March; the highest temperatures on 14 January
• Widespread wind damage on 9 February
• Thunderstorms and locally heavy rain on 15 and 19 February
• Sharp cold snap on 20 February in the wake of a cold front
• Record late-season warmth: Campania's 24.1 °C on 15 March was the first time a day over 24 °C has been recorded so late in Tasmania
• Record high April temperatures at several sites
• Cool southerly change at end of June
• Exceptional winds at the end of July
• A cluster of thunderstorms and wind damage in the northwest on 28 July
• Warm and windy on 28 September, with an early-season total fire ban declared
• Severe thunderstorms bring hail and flash flooding to Hobart on 16 December

Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top

* Mount Read was affected by snow and equipment failure several times during the year, and the true total is not known. The highest confirmed total was 2706 mm at Lake Margaret Power Station

Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top

Maps
	Observed	Anomaly	Decile rank
Total rainfall
Mean daily maximum temperatures
Mean daily minimum temperatures

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Monthly maps
	Rainfall rank	Maximum temperature rank	Minimum temperature rank
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December

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* note: there are gaps in the historical record at this site, so it is possible a lower value has gone unreported.

* note: there are gaps in the historical record at this site, so it is possible a higher value has gone unreported.

* note: there are gaps in the historical record at this site, so it is possible a higher value has gone unreported.

Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top

Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top