Tasmania in 2022: 10th warmest year since 1910; dry in the west, wet in the east, warm overall

Annual rainfall for 2022 was much lower than average for the Western District and much higher than average for the East Coast and Midlands districts. Mean maximum temperatures were very much above average for the western half of Tasmania, and average to above average in the east. Mean minimum temperatures were very much above than average across most of the state.

Persistent east–west rainfall contrast

  • There was a persistent pattern of above average monthly rainfall in the east and below average rainfall in the west from the beginning of the year until late autumn, and then returning in spring.
  • A small area of the Western District had its lowest annual rainfall on record since 1900.
  • Parts of the East Coast District had their highest annual rainfall on record.
  • The combination of below average rainfall in the west and above average rainfall in the east resulted in 2022 annual rainfall for Tasmania overall being close to average, at around 3% below the 1961–1990 climatological mean.
  • While overall 2022 was much drier than average for western Tasmania, the area had above average rainfall in May, June, August and November.
  • The highest daily rainfall recorded in Tasmania during 2022 was 291.2 mm at Gray (Haven of Hope) on 7 January, a new January daily rainfall record for Tasmania, when a low pressure trough and cold front brought very heavy rainfall to eastern Tasmania.
  • Some sites had their highest daily rainfall on record on either 6 May, when thunderstorms with heavy rain, lightning, and strong winds hit southern Tasmania, or 14 October, when a slow-moving rain band brought heavy rainfall across northern Tasmania.
  • Some sites had their highest total rainfall on record and others their highest total rainfall for at least 20 years.

Higher than average temperatures throughout most of the year

  • Mean maximum temperatures were in the warmest 10% of annual records across the western half of Tasmania; maximum temperatures were close to average for parts of the east coast.
  • The mean maximum temperature for Tasmania as a whole for 2022 was 0.67 °C above the 1961–1990 average, the equal-10th warmest on record since 1910, and the highest since 2018.
  • January, March, April and August all ranked in the top ten warmest mean maximum temperatures for their respective months.
  • The mean maximum temperature for June was the lowest since 2007, and daytime temperatures were notably cooler than average in parts of the east and south.
  • The mean minimum temperature for Tasmania for 2022 was 0.46 °C above the 1961–1990 average, and the highest since 2018.
  • Mean minimum temperatures were in the warmest 10% of all years since 2010 across most of the state.
  • For Tasmania overall, January 2022's mean minimum temperature was the warmest on record for January (since 1910) and April's mean minimum temperature was equal tenth warmest.
  • A few sites had their highest mean daily maximum temperature on record, including Cape Sorell with 80 years of record.
  • Maatsuyker Island Lighthouse, with 85 years of data, and Wynyard Airport had their highest mean daily minimum temperature on record.
  • A few sites including Maatsuyker Island Lighthouse, had their highest mean temperature on record.

Hobart (Ellerslie Road)

  • Total rainfall for Hobart (Ellerslie Road) was 700.0 mm, which is 114% of the long-term average of 612.8 mm.
  • The mean daily maximum temperature for Hobart (Ellerslie Road) was 17.5 °C, which is 0.5 °C above the long-term average of 17.0 °C.
  • The warmest day was 31.5 °C on 27 December, and the coolest day was on 18 July when the temperature reached 7.3 °C
  • The mean daily minimum temperature for Hobart (Ellerslie Road) was 9.2 °C, which is 0.8 °C above the long-term average of 8.4 °C.
  • The coldest morning was 0.9 °C on 21 August, and the warmest morning was on 28 January when the minimum temperature was 20.7 °C.

Further information

Media
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Extremes in 2022
Hottest day 37.9 °C at Scotts Peak Dam on 27 Dec
Warmest days on average 19.3 °C at Launceston (Ti Tree Bend)
Coolest days on average 7.9 °C at kunanyi (Mount Wellington Pinnacle)
Coldest day -2.8 °C at kunanyi (Mount Wellington Pinnacle) on 7 Jun
Coldest night -9.9 °C at Liawenee on 24 May
Coolest nights on average 2.0 °C at kunanyi (Mount Wellington Pinnacle)
2.0 °C at Liawenee
Warmest nights on average 11.9 °C at Hogan Island
11.9 °C at Swan Island
Warmest night 21.4 °C at Hogan Island on 1 Jan
Warmest on average overall 14.6 °C at Swan Island
Coolest on average overall 4.9 °C at kunanyi (Mount Wellington Pinnacle)
Wettest overall 3109.4 mm at Mount Read
Wettest day 291.2 mm at Gray (Haven of Hope) on 7 Jan
Strongest wind gust 150 km/h at Tasman Island on 11 Jun

Maps
ObservedAnomalyDecile rank
Total
rainfall
Map of Rainfall totals Map of Percentage of normal rainfall Map of Rainfall deciles
Mean
daily
maximum
temperatures
Map of Mean maximum temperature Map of Anomaly in mean maximum temperature Map of Decile rank of mean maximum temperature
Mean
daily
minimum
temperatures
Map of Mean minimum temperature Map of Anomaly in mean minimum temperature Map of Decile rank of mean minimum temperature

Click on a map to show it full size in a pop-up window


Monthly maps
Rainfall rankMaximum temperature rankMinimum temperature rank
January Map of Rainfall deciles Map of Decile rank of mean maximum temperature Map of Decile rank of mean minimum temperature
February Map of Rainfall deciles Map of Decile rank of mean maximum temperature Map of Decile rank of mean minimum temperature
March Map of Rainfall deciles Map of Decile rank of mean maximum temperature Map of Decile rank of mean minimum temperature
April Map of Rainfall deciles Map of Decile rank of mean maximum temperature Map of Decile rank of mean minimum temperature
May Map of Rainfall deciles Map of Decile rank of mean maximum temperature Map of Decile rank of mean minimum temperature
June Map of Rainfall deciles Map of Decile rank of mean maximum temperature Map of Decile rank of mean minimum temperature
July Map of Rainfall deciles Map of Decile rank of mean maximum temperature Map of Decile rank of mean minimum temperature
August Map of Rainfall deciles Map of Decile rank of mean maximum temperature Map of Decile rank of mean minimum temperature
September Map of Rainfall deciles Map of Decile rank of mean maximum temperature Map of Decile rank of mean minimum temperature
October Map of Rainfall deciles Map of Decile rank of mean maximum temperature Map of Decile rank of mean minimum temperature
November Map of Rainfall deciles Map of Decile rank of mean maximum temperature Map of Decile rank of mean minimum temperature
December Map of Rainfall deciles Map of Decile rank of mean maximum temperature Map of Decile rank of mean minimum temperature

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
Lilydale Post Office 108.2 on 14 Oct 85.0 on 16 May 1988 119
Tomahawk (Carisbrooke) 148.6 on 1 Mar 123.2 on 13 Jan 2011 58
Musselboro (Elverton) 176.6 on 14 Oct 104.0 on 31 Aug 2005 55
Orielton (East Orielton Road) 89.0 on 6 May 84.1 on 17 May 1969 54
Tea Tree (The Point) 99.0 on 6 May 91.8 on 19 Dec 1995 37
Bell Bay (Temco) 88.4 on 1 Mar 65.4 on 21 Jul 2000 33
Mount Barrow (South Barrow) 188.8 on 14 Oct 149.8 on 6 Jun 2016 30
Below Craigbourne Dam (Coal River) 107.8 on 6 May 100.8 on 11 May 2018 29
Nunamara Offtake (St Patricks River) 156.0 on 14 Oct 151.2 on 6 Jun 2016 28
George Town (South Street) 92.8 on 1 Mar 86.2 on 28 Jan 2004 27
Woodlea Nursery 133.5 on 14 Oct 110.4 on 6 Mar 2020 26
Ouse Fire Station 49.0 on 6 May 48.0 on 10 Aug 2007 25
Tea Tree Point 92.8 on 6 May 75.8 on 27 Dec 1998 25
Mount Dromedary 72.2 on 6 May 69.4 on 6 Feb 2021 24
Campania (Kincora) 96.0 on 6 May 70.8 on 13 Apr 2011 23
Magra (Black Hills Road) 66.0 on 6 May 61.2 on 30 Sep 2016 23
Hummocky Hills 58.2 on 4 Aug 53.6 on 24 Mar 2011 21
Tomahawk (Wyambi) 116.0 on 14 Oct 112.0 on 13 Jan 2011 20
Westerway (Leesons Road) 45.0 on 6 May =45.0 on 6 Feb 2021 20



Record highest annual total rainfall
New record
(mm)
Old
record
Years of
record
Annual
average
Apslawn 1335.4 1259.9 in 1974 97 722.3
Coles Bay (Freycinet) 1268.0 1125.3 in 1974 45 695.6
Tea Tree (The Point) 826.4 789.0 in 2009 36 560.7
Campbell Town (Elizabeth R) 722.9 697.4 in 2010 30 517.4
Cornwall 1937.4 1863.2 in 2011 23 1031.1
kunanyi (Mount Wellington Pinnacle) 1548.6 1494.0 in 1996 20 945.9

Highest annual total rainfall for at least 20 years
Observed
(mm)
Most recent
higher
Annual
average
Bicheno (Council Depot) 1207.9 1240.0 in 1934* 686.6
Wattle Hill 963.6 998.7 in 1970 663.1
larapuna (Eddystone Point) 1062.0 1084.4 in 1970* 756.0
Cranbrook (Cranbrook House) 1031.6 1127.4 in 1970* 634.9
Orielton (East Orielton Road) 746.0 800.4 in 1975* 569.1
Kellevie 1191.2 1355.7 in 1975* 877.3
Richmond (Brookbank) 688.6 794.4 in 1975* 530.3
Orford South 1034.2 1175.2 in 1974* 704.7
Eaglehawk Neck (Jetty Road) 1134.6 1175.2 in 1995* 884.7

* 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 maximum temperature
New record
(°C)
Old
record
Years of
record
Annual
average
Cape Sorell 16.8 16.5 in 2014 80 15.1
Strahan Aerodrome 17.4 17.3 in 2017 29 16.6
Smithton Aerodrome 17.8 = 17.8 in 2014 26 17.3
Low Head 17.2 = 17.2 in 2014 25 16.7
Scotts Peak Dam 16.0 15.9 in 2014 23 15.1

Highest annual mean daily maximum temperature for at least 20 years
Observed
(°C)
Most recent
higher
Annual
average
Maatsuyker Island Lighthouse 14.5 14.6 in 1989 13.9



Lowest annual mean daily maximum temperature for at least 20 years
Observed
(°C)
Most recent
lower
Annual
average
Bicheno (Council Depot) 17.2 17.0 in 1996* 17.9

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




Record highest annual mean daily minimum temperature
New record
(°C)
Old
record
Years of
record
Annual
average
Maatsuyker Island Lighthouse 9.6 9.5 in 2014 85 8.7
Wynyard Airport 8.1 8.0 in 2016 33 7.2



Record highest annual mean temperature
New record
(°C)
Old
record
Years of
record
Annual
average
Maatsuyker Island Lighthouse 12.1 = 12.1 in 1961 85 11.3
Cape Sorell 13.6 13.5 in 2016 79 12.3
Smithton Aerodrome 13.0 12.9 in 2016 26 12.5
Luncheon Hill (Forestry) 12.2 12.0 in 2009 23 11.6
Scotts Peak Dam 11.3 11.2 in 2014 23 10.7



Summary statistics for 2022
Maximum temperatures
(°C)
Minimum temperatures
(°C)
Rainfall
(millimetres)
Mean
for
2022
Diff
from
average
Highest
for
2022
Mean
for
2022
Diff
from
average
Lowest
for
2022
Total
for
2022
Average
annual
total
Rank
of
2022
Fraction
of annual
average
Northern (district 91)
Cape Grim 15.9 +0.3 24.6 25 Jan 10.9 +0.2 2.7 19 Jul 901.0 900.0 average 100%
Cape Grim BAPS (Comparison) 16.2 +0.5 24.8 25 Jan 11.0 +0.4 2.5 19 Jul 825.4 803.7 average 103%
Devonport Airport 17.6 +0.5 26.7 28 Feb 8.9 +0.5 -1.0 14 Jun 844.8 763.8 high 111%
Launceston (Ti Tree Bend) 19.3 +0.7 32.4 1 Jan 7.8 +0.4 -3.9 14 Jun 695.0 684.4 average 102%
Launceston Airport 18.0 -0.1 32.8 1 Jan 6.7 +0.4 -4.0 20 Jul 632.6 626.8 average 101%
Low Head 17.2 +0.5 25.8 28 Feb 10.7 +0.1 0.8 14 Jun 830.4 685.6 high 121%
Luncheon Hill (Forestry) 16.4 +0.8 30.2 26 Dec 8.0 +0.4 -0.1 19 Jul 1408.8 1497.2 low 94%
Marrawah     26.8 27 Dec 9.9 +0.5 1.5 19 Jul 1155.8 1078.6 high 107%
Scottsdale (West Minstone Road) 17.3 0.0 30.8 27 Dec 8.0 +0.8 -2.0 30 Jul 1120.4 971.4 high 115%
Sheffield School Farm 16.1 -0.1 28.8 27 Dec 7.1 +0.3 -3.0 19 Jul 1540.2 1061.3 v high 145%
Smithton Aerodrome 17.8 +0.5 29.2 14 Feb 8.2 +0.5 -2.0 3 Jul 870.6 914.8 low 95%
Wynyard Airport 17.4 +0.3 28.3 2 Jan 8.1 +0.9 -2.6 19 Jul
East Coast (district 92)
Bicheno (Council Depot) 17.2 -0.7 30.2 1 Feb 10.3 +0.7 1.0 21 Aug 1207.9 686.6 v high 176%
Friendly Beaches 18.0 -0.5 32.4 1 Jan 9.4 0.0 -0.9 21 Aug 1393.6 726.0 v high 192%
larapuna (Eddystone Point) 17.7 +0.7 27.6 1 Jan 11.2 +1.0 2.8 13 Jun 1062.0 756.0 v high 140%
Maria Island (Point Lesueur) 16.2 -0.8 26.3 28 Jan 10.7 +0.2 3.0 18 Jul 796.4 545.8 v high 146%
St Helens Aerodrome 17.6 -0.5 33.8 1 Jan 9.5 +0.5 -0.4 13 Jun 1094.2 706.1 v high 155%
Swan Island 17.3 +0.1 29.5 1 Jan 11.9 +0.3 3.2 13 Sep 590.8 628.5 average 94%
Swansea (Francis Street)     33.3 1 Jan 8.1 -0.1 -2.1 14 Jun 953.0 568.9 high 168%
Southeast (district 94)
Campania (Kincora) 18.1 -0.6 34.7 27 Dec 7.1 -0.2 -2.3 21 Jul 660.8 498.5 high 133%
Cape Bruny (Cape Bruny) 16.4 +0.3 33.3 27 Dec 9.6 +0.3 1.9 18 Jul 816.8 771.5 high 106%
Dennes Point 16.7 -0.4 29.4 1 Feb 9.8 +0.1 1.8 21 Aug 623.0
Dover 16.7 +0.1 28.6 10 Nov 6.8 0.0 -1.2 21 Aug 946.6 878.4 average 108%
Dunalley (Stroud Point) 16.9 -0.5 28.5 28 Jan 9.9 -0.1 1.4 21 Aug 784.6
Grove (Research Station) 17.6 0.0 34.1 27 Dec 5.9 +0.1 -4.0 9 Aug 865.4 740.9 high 117%
Hobart (Ellerslie Road) 17.5 +0.5 31.5 27 Dec 9.2 +0.8 0.9 21 Aug 700.0 612.8 high 114%
Hobart Airport 17.5   34.1 27 Dec 8.3   -0.4 21 Jul 604.4
kunanyi (Mount Wellington Pinnacle) 7.9 0.0 25.0 27 Dec 2.0 +0.5 -6.5 18 Jul 1548.6 945.9 highest 164%
Maatsuyker Island Lighthouse 14.5 +0.6 30.0 27 Dec 9.6 +0.9 1.9 18 Jul 948.6 1220.5 low 78%
Tasman Island 14.2 -0.3 27.3 28 Jan 9.4 +0.4 0.6 18 Jul
Tunnack Fire Station 14.8 -0.6 30.6 1 Jan 5.0 -0.1 -5.4 21 Jul 866.2 634.3 high 137%
Derwent Valley (district 95)
Bushy Park (Bushy Park Estates) 18.6 +0.8 37.6 27 Dec 5.9 0.0 -4.7 21 Jul 424.2 569.7 v low 74%
Ouse Fire Station 18.1 -0.3 36.9 27 Dec 5.6 0.0 -5.0 10 Aug 449.2 522.6 low 86%
Central Plateau (district 96)
Butlers Gorge 13.8 +0.9 32.9 27 Dec 3.1 +0.1 -6.2 22 Jul 1297.0 1668.8 v low 78%
Liawenee 12.0 -0.1 28.8 27 Dec 2.0 +0.3 -9.9 24 May 880.4 925.6 average 95%
West Coast (district 97)
Cape Sorell 16.8 +1.7 30.3 27 Dec 10.4 +0.9 3.0 20 Jul 1092.8 1309.3 low 83%
Hartz Mountain (Keoghs Pimple) 11.5 0.0 31.3 27 Dec 4.2 +0.2 -3.7 18 Jul 1243.6 1097.4 high 113%
Low Rocky Point 16.3 +0.4 29.2 27 Dec 9.6 +0.2 1.6 20 Jul 1088.8 1327.2 v low 82%
Mount Read 9.2 +0.5 28.0 27 Dec 3.2 +0.4 -4.2 18 Jul 3109.4
Scotts Peak Dam 16.0 +0.9 37.9 27 Dec 6.5 +0.3 -0.9 22 Jul 1739.0 1916.6 low 91%
Strahan Aerodrome 17.4 +0.8 36.0 27 Dec 8.2 +0.2 -2.0 19 Jul 1333.8 1554.6 low 86%
King Island (district 98)
King Island Airport 17.5 +0.5 29.7 27 Jan 10.3 +0.3 1.1 9 Aug 878.0 858.7 average 102%
Flinders Island (district 99)
Flinders Island Airport 18.2 +0.4 34.9 1 Jan 10.5 +0.6 -2.7 19 Jul 714.0 740.2 average 96%
Hogan Island 17.2 -0.1 32.5 1 Jan 11.9 +0.1 3.9 22 Nov 674.4 640.9 average 105%
Note: From 2017, information about Macquarie Island can be found in the climate summary for the Remote Islands and Antarctica

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.

This statement has been prepared based on information available at 11 am on Monday 23 January 2023. 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.

Information about Australian Indigenous seasonal calendars is available at the Indigenous Weather Knowledge website.

Further information

Media
(03) 9669 4057

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