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
Further information
- Media
- media@bom.gov.au (03) 9669 4057
- Enquiries
- helpdesk.climate@bom.gov.au
| Extremes in 2014 | |
|---|---|
| Hottest day | 40.2 °C at Bushy Park (Bushy Park Estates) on 14 Jan |
| Warmest days on average | 19.4 °C at Launceston (Ti Tree Bend) |
| Coolest days on average | 9.1 °C at Mount Wellington |
| Coldest day | -3.0 °C at Mount Wellington on 10 Aug |
| Coldest night | -8.7 °C at Liawenee on 9 Jun |
| Coolest nights on average | 2.0 °C at Liawenee |
| Warmest nights on average | 11.9 °C at Swan Island |
| Warmest night | 22.3 °C at Flinders Island Airport on 15 Jan |
| Warmest on average overall |
14.8 °C at Larapuna (Eddystone Point) and Swan Island |
| Coolest on average overall | 5.7 °C at Mount Wellington |
| Wettest overall | at least 3333 mm at Mount Read |
| Driest overall | 296.4 mm at Tunbridge (Austin-Vale) |
| Wettest day | 162.6 mm at Mount Read on 21 Feb |
| Strongest wind gust | 174 km/h at Maatsuyker Island Lighthouse on 29 Jul |
* 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 |
|
|
|
Click on a map to show it full size in a pop-up window
| Monthly maps | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Rainfall rank | Maximum temperature rank | Minimum temperature rank | |
| January |
|
|
|
| February |
|
|
|
| March |
|
|
|
| April |
|
|
|
| May |
|
|
|
| June |
|
|
|
| July |
|
|
|
| August |
|
|
|
| September |
|
|
|
| October |
|
|
|
| November |
|
|
|
| December |
|
|
|
Click on a map to show it full size in a pop-up window
| Record highest daily rainfall | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
New record (mm) |
Old record |
Years of record |
||||
| Mount Morriston (Macquarie River) | 87.4 | on 16 Feb | 61.4 | on 18 Jan 2010 | 21 | |
| Lowest annual total rainfall for at least 20 years | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Observed (mm) |
Most recent lower | Years since lower |
Annual average |
||
| Cape Bruny Lighthouse | 679.8 | 655.4 | in 1937* | 76 | 943.1 |
| Avoca (Railway House) | 371.8 | 369.5 | in 1967* | 45 | 550.9 |
| Lunawanna | 624.0 | 602.8 | in 1982* | 30 | 854.7 |
| Mauriceton (Jordan River) | 396.2 | 376.7 | in 1963* | 23 | 526.6 |
| Zeehan (West Coast Pioneers Museum) | 2123.7 | 1979.8 | in 1985* | 21 | 2395.0 |
* note: there are gaps in the historical record at this site, so it is possible a lower value has gone unreported.
| Record highest temperature | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
New record (°C) |
Old record |
Years of record |
Annual average |
|||
| Mount Wellington | 29.8 | on 14 Jan | 29.6 | on 25 Feb 1995 | 36 | 7.8 |
| Lake St Clair National Park | 33.9 | on 16 Jan | 33.0 | on 20 Jan 1997 | 25 | 13.1 |
| Record highest annual mean daily maximum temperature | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
New record (°C) |
Old record |
Years of record |
Annual average |
||
| Hobart (Ellerslie Road) | 18.3 | 18.2 | in 2010 | 130 | 16.9 |
| Cape Sorell | 16.5 | = 16.5 | in 2013 | 72 | 15.0 |
| Hobart Airport | 18.5 | 18.4 | in 2007 | 55 | 17.5 |
| Flinders Island Airport | 18.9 | 18.7 | in 1988 | 50 | 17.7 |
| Butlers Gorge | 14.2 | 14.0 | in 1972 | 48 | 12.8 |
| Launceston (Ti Tree Bend) | 19.4 | 19.2 | in 2007 | 29 | 18.5 |
| Mount Wellington | 9.1 | = 9.1 | in 2005 | 29 | 7.8 |
| Fingal (Legge Street) | 18.7 | 18.6 | in 1988 | 27 | 17.8 |
| Dover | 17.3 | 17.0 | in 2005 | 24 | 16.4 |
| Lake Leake (Elizabeth River) | 14.9 | 14.5 | in 2007 | 24 | 13.9 |
| Wynyard Airport | 17.8 | = 17.8 | in 2009 | 24 | 17.0 |
| Devonport Airport | 17.7 | 17.5 | in 2010 | 22 | 16.9 |
| Cape Grim BAPS (Comparison) | 16.3 | = 16.3 | in 2001 | 20 | 15.7 |
| Highest annual mean daily maximum temperature for at least 20 years | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Observed (°C) |
Most recent higher | Years since higher |
Annual average |
||
| Orford (Aubin Court) | 18.0 | 18.6 | in 1982 | 32 | 17.6 |
| Maatsuyker Island Lighthouse | 14.5 | 14.6 | in 1989 | 25 | 13.9 |
| Geeveston (Cemetery Road) | 17.7 | 18.0 | in 1989* | 24 | 16.9 |
* note: there are gaps in the historical record at this site, so it is possible a higher value has gone unreported.
| Record highest annual mean daily minimum temperature | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
New record (°C) |
Old record |
Years of record |
Annual average |
||
| Maatsuyker Island Lighthouse | 9.5 | = 9.5 | in 2007 | 76 | 8.6 |
| Cape Sorell | 10.5 | 10.3 | in 2013 | 72 | 9.5 |
| Marrawah | 10.0 | = 10.0 | in 1999 | 42 | 9.3 |
| Mount Wellington | 2.2 | = 2.2 | in 1999 | 29 | 1.4 |
| Record highest annual mean temperature | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
New record (°C) |
Old record |
Years of record |
Annual average |
||
| Hobart (Ellerslie Road) | 13.8 | = 13.8 | in 2013 | 130 | 12.6 |
| Cape Sorell | 13.5 | 13.4 | in 2013 | 71 | 12.2 |
| Hobart Airport | 13.6 | = 13.6 | in 2007 | 55 | 12.8 |
| Butlers Gorge | 8.8 | 8.7 | in 1961 | 47 | 7.9 |
| Mount Wellington | 5.7 | 5.5 | in 2005 | 29 | 4.6 |
| Lake Leake (Elizabeth River) | 9.5 | = 9.5 | in 2007 | 24 | 9.0 |
| Wynyard Airport | 12.7 | = 12.7 | in 2009 | 24 | 12.0 |
| Devonport Airport | 13.2 | = 13.2 | in 2007 | 22 | 12.6 |
| Cape Grim BAPS (Comparison) | 13.7 | = 13.7 | in 2000 | 20 | 13.1 |
| Highest annual mean temperature for at least 20 years | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Observed (°C) |
Most recent higher | Years since higher |
Annual average |
||
| Maatsuyker Island Lighthouse | 12.0 | =12.0 | in 1981 | 33 | 11.3 |
| Burnie (Round Hill) | 14.1 | 14.3 | in 1988 | 26 | 13.1 |
| Bushy Park (Bushy Park Estates) | 12.5 | 12.6 | in 1988 | 26 | 11.8 |
| Flinders Island Airport | 14.6 | 14.7 | in 1988* | 24 | 13.8 |
| Macquarie Island | 5.3 | 5.6 | in 1989* | 24 | 4.8 |
* 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
| Summary statistics for 2014 | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maximum temperatures (°C) |
Minimum temperatures (°C) |
Rainfall (millimetres) |
||||||||||
| Mean for 2014 |
Diff from average |
Highest for 2014 |
Mean for 2014 |
Diff from average |
Lowest for 2014 |
Total for 2014 |
Average annual total |
Rank of 2014 |
Fraction of annual average |
|||
| Northern (district 91) | ||||||||||||
| Burnie (Round Hill) | 17.8 | +0.9 | 30.2 | 18 Jan | 10.4 | +1.1 | 1.9 | 11 Aug | ||||
| Cape Grim | 16.0 | 27.6 | 28 Jan | 11.0 | 2.3 | 2 Aug | 736.0 | |||||
| Cape Grim BAPS (Comparison) | 16.3 | +0.6 | 27.4 | 28 Jan | 11.0 | +0.4 | 3.0 | 2 Aug | 728.0 | 776.8 | average | 94% |
| Cressy Research Station | 18.6 | +0.4 | 35.4 | 14 Jan | 5.8 | +0.1 | -4.8 | 12 Aug | 487.4 | 637.3 | low | 76% |
| Devonport Airport | 17.7 | +0.8 | 27.4 | 9 Feb | 8.7 | +0.5 | -0.8 | 12 Aug | 569.7 | 768.9 | v low | 74% |
| Launceston (Ti Tree Bend) | 19.4 | +0.9 | 34.6 | 14 Jan | 7.6 | +0.3 | -2.4 | 12 Aug | 592.1 | 679.3 | low | 87% |
| Launceston Airport | 18.7 | 35.7 | 14 Jan | 6.3 | -3.2 | 12 Aug | 548.0 | 623.5 | average | 88% | ||
| Low Head | 17.2 | +0.6 | 25.9 | 2 Feb | 10.8 | +0.3 | 2.6 | 12 Aug | 550.4 | 674.4 | v low | 82% |
| Marrawah | 32.8 | 15 Jan | 10.0 | +0.7 | 2.0 | 2 Aug | ||||||
| Scottsdale (West Minstone Road) | 18.0 | +0.7 | 33.8 | 15 Jan | 7.6 | +0.4 | -2.0 | 30 Jun | 734.4 | 978.9 | low | 75% |
| Sheffield School Farm | 16.7 | +0.5 | 32.2 | 15 Jan | 7.0 | +0.2 | -1.2 | 12 Aug | 953.8 | |||
| Smithton Aerodrome | 17.8 | +0.6 | 34.1 | 15 Jan | 7.9 | +0.2 | -1.2 | 7 May | 769.8 | 898.3 | v low | 86% |
| Wynyard Airport | 17.8 | +0.8 | 31.8 | 15 Jan | 7.6 | +0.6 | -2.4 | 12 Aug | 755.8 | 983.1 | v low | 77% |
| East Coast (district 92) | ||||||||||||
| Bicheno (Council Depot) | 18.5 | +0.7 | 33.0 | 9 Feb | 10.1 | +0.6 | 3.0 | 13 Jul | 483.3 | 679.9 | low | 71% |
| Fingal (Legge Street) | 18.7 | +0.9 | 37.5 | 14 Jan | 5.3 | 0.0 | -4.9 | 12 Aug | 433.2 | 608.9 | low | 71% |
| Friendly Beaches | 19.2 | +0.8 | 37.3 | 9 Feb | 9.6 | +0.2 | 1.0 | 22 Jul | 565.8 | |||
| Lake Leake (Elizabeth River) | 14.9 | +1.0 | 33.0 | 14 Jan | 4.2 | +0.2 | -6.1 | 12 Aug | 493.4 | 826.5 | v low | 60% |
| Larapuna (Eddystone Point) | 18.4 | +1.2 | 31.6 | 9 Feb | 11.1 | +0.7 | 2.1 | 11 Aug | 519.2 | 762.2 | v low | 68% |
| Maria Island (Point Lesueur) | 17.4 | 32.2 | 9 Feb | 10.8 | 3.4 | 11 Aug | ||||||
| Orford (Aubin Court) | 18.0 | +0.4 | 36.4 | 28 Jan | 8.4 | +0.6 | -0.8 | 24 Jul | 437.5 | 667.5 | low | 66% |
| St Helens Aerodrome | 18.8 | +0.9 | 35.6 | 9 Feb | 9.2 | +0.3 | 0.2 | 12 Aug | 501.0 | 672.2 | low | 75% |
| Swan Island | 17.8 | +0.8 | 29.4 | 9 Feb | 11.9 | +0.4 | 3.2 | 12 Aug | 575.4 | |||
| Swansea (Francis Street) | 18.9 | 38.6 | 9 Feb | 8.3 | -1.0 | 3 Aug | 348.4 | |||||
| Midlands (district 93) | ||||||||||||
| Ross (The Boulevards) | 18.4 | +0.8 | 37.1 | 14 Jan | -6.1 | 12 Aug | 363.8 | 489.0 | low | 74% | ||
| Southeast (district 94) | ||||||||||||
| Campania (Kincora) | 19.1 | +0.5 | 39.2 | 14 Jan | 7.5 | +0.3 | -1.7 | 9 Jun | 436.2 | 494.9 | average | 88% |
| Cape Bruny (Cape Bruny) | 16.4 | +0.5 | 29.7 | 11 Mar | 9.5 | +0.2 | 3.4 | 11 Aug | ||||
| Cape Bruny Lighthouse | 29.1 | 28 Jan | 9.5 | +0.7 | 0.8 | 1 Aug | 679.8 | 943.1 | v low | 72% | ||
| Dennes Point | 17.5 | 37.7 | 28 Jan | 9.7 | 2.2 | 3 Aug | 396.6 | |||||
| Dover | 17.3 | +0.9 | 35.1 | 28 Jan | 7.0 | +0.2 | -0.5 | 30 May | 735.6 | 877.8 | low | 84% |
| Dunalley (Stroud Point) | 17.7 | 38.1 | 28 Jan | 10.1 | 2.6 | 9 Jun | 498.0 | |||||
| Geeveston (Cemetery Road) | 17.7 | +0.8 | 37.4 | 28 Jan | 6.5 | +0.3 | -1.7 | 21 Jul | 788.6 | 881.1 | low | 90% |
| Grove (Research Station) | 18.0 | 38.3 | 14 Jan | 6.0 | -2.4 | 19 Aug | 656.0 | 721.4 | average | 91% | ||
| Hobart (Ellerslie Road) | 18.3 | +1.4 | 38.9 | 28 Jan | 9.3 | +1.0 | 1.2 | 9 Jun | 484.2 | 614.7 | low | 79% |
| Hobart Airport | 18.5 | +1.0 | 39.7 | 28 Jan | 8.6 | +0.5 | 0.5 | 9 Jun | 433.8 | 495.8 | average | 87% |
| Maatsuyker Island Lighthouse | 14.5 | +0.6 | 30.3 | 17 Jan | 9.5 | +0.9 | 3.1 | 11 Aug | 1044.2 | 1228.8 | low | 85% |
| Melton Mowbray (North Stockman) | 18.0 | +0.6 | 40.1 | 14 Jan | 5.9 | -0.1 | -4.9 | 9 Jun | 438.2 | 451.5 | average | 97% |
| Mount Wellington | 9.1 | +1.3 | 29.8 | 14 Jan | 2.2 | +0.8 | -5.8 | 11 Aug | ||||
| Tasman Island | 14.8 | +0.4 | 30.9 | 9 Feb | 9.3 | +0.4 | 1.9 | 11 Aug | 781.6 | 817.1 | average | 96% |
| Tunnack Fire Station | 15.9 | +0.6 | 35.3 | 14 Jan | 5.0 | -0.1 | -5.2 | 14 Oct | 466.4 | 636.8 | low | 73% |
| Derwent Valley (district 95) | ||||||||||||
| Bushy Park (Bushy Park Estates) | 18.9 | +1.2 | 40.2 | 14 Jan | 6.0 | +0.1 | -2.4 | 9 Jun | ||||
| Maydena Post Office | 16.7 | +0.6 | 37.2 | 14 Jan | 5.5 | +0.1 | -2.4 | 14 Oct | 990.1 | 1162.5 | v low | 85% |
| Ouse Fire Station | 18.8 | +0.4 | 39.6 | 14 Jan | 5.5 | 0.0 | -4.1 | 19 Aug | 481.6 | 513.6 | average | 94% |
| Central Plateau (district 96) | ||||||||||||
| Butlers Gorge | 14.2 | +1.4 | 33.8 | 14 Jan | 3.5 | +0.5 | -6.5 | 7 Sep | 1437.4 | 1674.5 | low | 86% |
| Liawenee | 12.8 | +0.8 | 32.3 | 16 Jan | 2.0 | +0.4 | -8.7 | 9 Jun | 735.4 | |||
| West Coast (district 97) | ||||||||||||
| Cape Sorell | 16.5 | +1.5 | 32.5 | 14 Jan | 10.5 | +1.0 | 3.8 | 2 Aug | ||||
| Hartz Mountain (Keoghs Pimple) | 12.1 | +0.6 | 34.9 | 14 Jan | 4.4 | +0.4 | -2.6 | 2 Aug | ||||
| Low Rocky Point | 16.2 | 33.9 | 17 Jan | 9.5 | 3.0 | 6 Oct | 1282.4 | 1334.8 | average | 96% | ||
| Mount Read | 9.4 | +0.7 | 30.4 | 16 Jan | 3.2 | +0.5 | -3.9 | 11 Aug | ||||
| Scotts Peak Dam | 15.9 | +1.0 | 38.6 | 14 Jan | 6.5 | +0.3 | -0.4 | 9 May | 1716.6 | |||
| King Island (district 98) | ||||||||||||
| King Island Airport | 17.7 | +0.8 | 37.6 | 28 Jan | 10.4 | +0.5 | 2.5 | 23 Jul | 686.8 | 861.5 | v low | 80% |
| Flinders Island (district 99) | ||||||||||||
| Flinders Island Airport | 18.9 | +1.2 | 39.4 | 9 Feb | 10.3 | +0.5 | -1.3 | 12 Aug | 530.4 | 741.7 | v low | 72% |
| Antarctica and Macquarie Island (district 300) | ||||||||||||
| Macquarie Island | 7.0 | +0.4 | 11.2 | 19 Feb | 3.5 | +0.4 | -3.9 | 25 May | 993.0 | 976.9 | average | 102% |
Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top
Notes
The annual climate summary 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. Later information, including data that has had greater opportunity for quality control, will be presented in the Monthly Weather Review, usually published in the fourth week of the month.
A Climate Summary is generally published on the first working day of each month.
This statement has been prepared based on information available at 9 am on Tuesday 6 January 2015. Some checks have been made on the data, but it is possible that results will change as new information becomes available.
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.
The ACORN-SAT dataset is used for temperature area averages.
Further information
- Media
- media@bom.gov.au (03) 9669 4057
- Enquiries
- helpdesk.climate@bom.gov.au
