Thursday 1 February 2007 - Monthly Climate Summary for Tasmania - Product code IDCKGC17R0
Tasmania in January 2007
Wet and warm
Summary
A sudden downpour affected the southeast on the 21st, giving Hobart one of its wettest Januaries on record and making the southeast one of the wettest parts of the state for the month. Rainfall was average or above across most of Tasmania, except for parts of the northeast. It was mostly warmer than normal, although the final week was fairly cool and windy.
Jump to: Extremes Records Summaries Notes the top
Details
A month of good rains: In contrast to December, and indeed most of 2006, January brought plentiful rains to most areas of the state, the only exception being Flinders Island and the Tamar and Fingal Valleys (including Launceston and Bicheno), which had below-average rainfall for the month. Moderate to heavy rains fell during the first and third weeks, from a combination of vigorous cold fronts, low pressure systems centred over the state and a few thunderstorms. Northern sites received about 50 to 80 mm, most of the east received at least 30 mm, much of the southeast had over 100 mm and there were totals over 200 mm in the western highlands. Premaydena (on the Tasman Peninsula) had its wettest January on record, whilst Hobart, Cape Sorell and Strathgordon had their wettest January rainfall for many years - since 1924 in the case of Hobart. Meanwhile, Fingal had its lowest total January rainfall since 1980.
Very heavy rainfall event: Thunderstorms moved across parts of southeastern Tasmania on the afternoon of the 21st, dumping very heavy rain over a short period. In Hobart, over 25 mm fell in the 30 minutes from 3 pm, with a further 40 mm falling up to 8 pm. Rainfall this intense only occurs very rarely in Hobart - about once every fifty years on average. There was 96 mm recorded at Glenorchy and 54 mm at Tasman Island, but the storms were localised: the same day brought only 6 mm to New Norfolk and 4 mm to Huonville.
Warm to hot days: A few warm to hot days in the first half of the month ensured that daytime temperatures were above average. Particularly hot days occurred on the 4th and 5th, the 11th and 12th, the 14th to the 17th and the 21st, when several sites recorded temperatures into the 30s. The month ended with a week of cooler temperatures and strong, gusty winds.
Some warm nights: There were many warm nights in January, especially during the first and third weeks of the month, although temperatures dropped toward the end of the month. Overnight temperatures were about 1°C to 1.5°C above average inland and on the northwest coast, while it was slightly cooler on the other coasts. Geeveston and Wynyard had their warmest January night on record, whilst Flinders Island Airport and Scamander had their highest January mean daily minimum temperature on record. A cool period near the end of the month saw Scottsdale have its lowest January temperature on record on the morning of the 29th.
Further information
Ian Barnes-Keoghan or Tom DelfattiTasmania and Antarctica Climate Services Centre
Bureau of Meteorology
Phone (03) 6221 2043
Email climate.tas@bom.gov.au
Extremes
| Hottest day Highest temperature |
35.5°C at Ouse Fire Station on the 16th |
|---|---|
| Warmest days on average Highest mean daily maximum temperature |
25.6°C at Launceston Airport |
| Coolest days on average Lowest mean daily maximum temperature | 13.9°C at Mount Read |
| Coldest day Lowest daily maximum temperature |
3.2°C at Mount Wellington on the 27th |
| Coldest night Lowest temperature |
−1.6°C at Mount Wellington on the 27th and Liawenee on the 28th |
| Coolest nights on average Lowest mean daily minimum temperature | 5.5°C at Mount Wellington |
| Warmest nights on average Highest mean daily minimum temperature |
15.2°C at Flinders Island Airport |
| Warmest night Highest daily minimum temperature |
20.5°C at Flinders Island Airport on the 17th |
| Wettest overall Highest total rainfall |
343.4 mm at Mount Read |
| Driest overall Lowest total rainfall | 14.0 mm at Fingal (Legge Street) |
| Wettest day Highest daily rainfall |
96.0 mm at Glenorchy (Glenorchy Reservoir) on the 22nd |
| Highest wind gust |
131 km/h at Mount Wellington on the 30th |
Jump to: Extremes Records Summaries Notes the top
Records
| Record highest total January rainfall | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Total rainfall for January 2007 (mm) |
Previous highest for January |
Years of record |
Normal for January |
||
| Premaydena Hatchery | 147.6 | 145.2 | in 1975 | 101 | 52.6 |
| Highest total January rainfall for at least 20 years | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Total rainfall for January 2007 (mm) |
Most recent higher for January |
Years since higher |
Normal for January |
||
| Hobart (Ellerslie Road) | 124.4 | 138.3 | in 1924 | 83 | 48.3 |
| Cape Sorell | 130.2 | 163.8 | in 1937 | 45 | 70.8 |
| Strathgordon Village | 283.6 | 480.3 | in 1987 | 20 | 153.8 |
| Lowest total January rainfall for at least 20 years | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Total rainfall for January 2007 (mm) |
Most recent lower for January |
Years since lower |
Normal for January |
||
| Fingal (Legge Street) | 14.0 | 13.8 | in 1980 | 27 | 44.4 |
| Record highest January mean daily minimum temperature | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Mean daily minimum temperature for January 2007 (°C) |
Previous highest for January |
Years of record |
Normal for January |
||
| Flinders Island Airport | 15.2 | 15.0 | in 1974 | 44 | 13.2 |
| Scamander | 13.7 | = 13.7 | in 1988 | 22 | 12.5 |
| Record highest January daily minimum temperature | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Highest daily minimum temperature in January 2007 (°C) |
Previous highest for January |
Years of record |
Normal for January |
|||
| Geeveston (Cemetery Road) | 18.5 | on the 17th | 18.1 | on the 26th in 2005 | 21 | 9.7 |
| Wynyard Airport | 19.1 | on the 17th | = 19.1 | on the 14th in 1998 | 21 | 10.9 |
| Record lowest January temperature | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Lowest temperature in January 2007 (°C) |
Previous lowest for January |
Years of record |
Normal for January |
|||
| Scottsdale (West Minstone Road) | 2.8 | on the 29th | 2.9 | on the 13th in 1983 | 35 | 10.7 |
Jump to: Extremes Records Summaries Notes the top
Summaries
In the following table, certain key sites have been highlighted to make them easier to identify.
| Summary statistics for January 2007 | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maximum temperatures for January (°C) |
Minimum temperatures for January (°C) |
Rainfall for January (millimetres) |
||||||||||
| Mean for January 2007 |
Diff from normal |
Highest for January 2007 |
Mean for January 2007 |
Diff from normal |
Lowest for January 2007 |
Total for January 2007 |
Normal for January |
Rank of January 2007 |
Fraction of January normal |
|||
| Northern (district 91) | ||||||||||||
| Bridport | 22.0 | +0.3 | 27.4 | 5th | 13.4 | +0.3 | 7.1 | 31st | 41.8 | 62.1 | normal | 67% |
| Burnie | 21.3 | +0.3 | 27.9 | 14th | 14.1 | +1.6 | 8.5 | 27th | 52.2 | 43.8 | normal | 119% |
| Cape Grim BAPS | 19.1 | +0.4 | 23.9 | 16th | 13.8 | +0.9 | 9.5 | 27th | 49.4 | 37.1 | high | 133% |
| Cressy Research Station | 25.4 | 33.8 | 16th | 11.5 | 6.3 | 31st | 55.4 | |||||
| Devonport Airport | 21.9 | +1.0 | 27.9 | 14th | 13.3 | +1.2 | 7.2 | 31st | 44.6 | 43.7 | normal | 102% |
| Launceston | 25.2 | +1.2 | 33.7 | 16th | 13.0 | +0.9 | 5.1 | 31st | 31.4 | 48.9 | low | 64% |
| Launceston Airport | 25.6 | 34.8 | 17th | 11.0 | 3.5 | 31st | 36.6 | |||||
| Launceston Airport Comparison | 24.7 | +1.6 | 33.6 | 17th | 11.1 | +0.9 | 4.4 | 31st | 38.6 | 44.9 | normal | 86% |
| Low Head | 20.2 | +0.1 | 23.4 | 16th | 14.7 | +0.6 | 10.4 | 27th | 39.2 | 57.6 | low | 68% |
| Marrawah | 20.1 | +0.1 | 27.5 | 16th | 13.2 | +1.4 | 8.5 | 27th | 65.8 | 49.0 | high | 134% |
| Powranna | 25.2 | +1.3 | 34.0 | 17th | 11.2 | +0.7 | 6.0 | 31st | 39.4 | 60.4 | normal | 65% |
| Scottsdale | 23.5 | +0.8 | 31.3 | 17th | 12.0 | +1.3 | 2.8 | 29th | 42.0 | 60.7 | normal | 69% |
| Sheffield School Farm | 22.2 | +0.7 | 28.5 | 17th | 11.3 | +0.6 | 5.9 | 27th | 70.2 | 60.1 | high | 117% |
| Smithton Aerodrome | 21.2 | −0.2 | 26.9 | 17th | 12.6 | +1.3 | 4.5 | 25th | 45.4 | 42.4 | normal | 107% |
| Wynyard Airport | 21.8 | +0.9 | 30.2 | 17th | 12.6 | +1.7 | 5.6 | 31st | 53.8 | 42.2 | high | 127% |
| East Coast (district 92) | ||||||||||||
| Bicheno | 22.9 | +1.7 | 33.1 | 5th | 13.4 | +0.7 | 8.9 | 31st | 22.0 | 53.3 | low | 41% |
| Eddystone Point | 22.7 | +2.0 | 33.0 | 5th | 14.2 | +0.7 | 8.2 | 31st | 39.8 | 45.8 | normal | 87% |
| Fingal | 24.0 | +0.9 | 32.5 | 11th | 11.0 | +0.8 | 4.2 | 29th | 14.0 | 44.4 | low | 32% |
| Friendly Beaches | 23.6 | +1.1 | 35.0 | 5th | 13.3 | +0.3 | 8.3 | 9th | 46.2 | |||
| Lake Leake | 20.1 | +1.2 | 29.7 | 17th | 9.1 | +0.9 | 1.8 | 10th | 39.0 | 55.6 | normal | 70% |
| Maria Island | 21.7 | 27.9 | 5th | 13.5 | 9.5 | 9th | 52.6 | |||||
| Orford | 22.4 | +0.5 | 33.0 | 11th | 12.5 | +0.8 | 7.6 | 9th | 53.6 | 50.8 | normal | 106% |
| Scamander | 22.6 | +0.8 | 32.7 | 11th | 13.7 | +1.3 | 7.8 | 29th | 38.2 | 48.3 | normal | 79% |
| St Helens Aerodrome | 22.8 | 31.8 | 11th | 13.4 | 6.7 | 31st | 36.8 | |||||
| Swan Island | 20.6 | 25.8 | 11th | 15.0 | 10.2 | 29th | 27.0 | |||||
| Swansea Post Office | 23.1 | +0.9 | 35.0 | 11th | 12.7 | +1.1 | 6.8 | 5th | 35.6 | 50.0 | normal | 71% |
| Midlands (district 93) | ||||||||||||
| Ross | 25.4 | +1.6 | 34.4 | 16th | 11.4 | +1.0 | 4.7 | 9th | 44.4 | 55.0 | normal | 81% |
| Southeast (district 94) | ||||||||||||
| Campania | 24.6 | 32.5 | 17th | 12.4 | 5.1 | 9th | 83.0 | |||||
| Cape Bruny | 20.4 | +1.0 | 28.9 | 4th | 12.2 | +0.1 | 6.7 | 28th | 105.4 | |||
| Cape Bruny Lighthouse | 19.7 | +1.5 | 27.5 | 4th | 12.7 | +1.3 | 7.0 | 27th | 128.8 | 62.6 | very high | 206% |
| Dover | 20.7 | +0.2 | 28.1 | 11th | 11.0 | +0.9 | 3.5 | 9th | 101.5 | 55.8 | high | 182% |
| Geeveston | 21.8 | +0.3 | 33.0 | 4th | 10.8 | +1.1 | 3.0 | 9th | 126.4 | 59.0 | very high | 214% |
| Grove Comparison | 23.2 | +1.0 | 33.2 | 4th | 10.5 | +1.1 | 4.0 | 9th | 66.8 | 48.0 | high | 139% |
| Grove | 23.2 | 33.2 | 4th | 10.1 | 3.4 | 9th | 71.0 | |||||
| Hobart | 22.9 | +1.3 | 33.0 | 11th | 12.9 | +1.1 | 7.5 | 9th | 124.4 | 48.3 | very high | 258% |
| Hobart Airport | 23.5 | +1.1 | 32.6 | 4th | 12.7 | +0.8 | 7.2 | 9th | 92.6 | 42.4 | very high | 218% |
| Maatsuyker Island Lighthouse | 17.4 | +0.3 | 29.6 | 16th | 11.7 | +1.1 | 6.8 | 27th | 131.8 | 80.4 | very high | 164% |
| Melton Mowbray | 24.1 | +0.5 | 34.9 | 16th | 11.2 | +1.2 | 5.0 | 9th | 57.2 | 33.7 | high | 170% |
| Mount Wellington | 14.4 | +1.4 | 25.3 | 17th | 5.5 | +0.9 | −1.6 | 27th | 119.6 | 88.2 | normal | 136% |
| Tasman Island | 18.3 | 25.8 | 5th | 11.1 | 5.0 | 27th | 143.6 | |||||
| Tunnack Fire Station | 21.3 | 0 | 31.0 | 17th | 9.5 | +0.9 | 1.1 | 9th | 72.2 | 52.4 | normal | 138% |
| Derwent Valley (district 95) | ||||||||||||
| Bushy Park | 24.7 | +0.9 | 34.5 | 17th | 11.1 | +1.1 | 5.9 | 27th | 42.8 | 41.1 | normal | 104% |
| Maydena Post Office | 21.8 | −0.3 | 33.5 | 16th | 10.1 | +1.2 | 3.4 | 25th | 88.2 | 65.9 | high | 134% |
| Moogara | 20.7 | +1.3 | 29.8 | 4th | 9.1 | +0.8 | 2.8 | 27th | 72.4 | 52.9 | normal | 137% |
| Ouse Fire Station | 25.3 | 35.5 | 16th | 11.3 | 5.6 | 10th | 57.6 | |||||
| Tarraleah Village | 20.5 | +1.3 | 32.2 | 16th | 7.9 | +0.9 | 2.6 | 27th | 109.2 | 70.9 | high | 154% |
| Central Plateau (district 96) | ||||||||||||
| Lake St Clair National Park | 19.3 | +0.1 | 30.5 | 16th | 7.6 | +1.3 | 0.6 | 25th | 165.2 | 109.9 | high | 150% |
| Liawenee | 19.1 | 28.7 | 17th | 6.0 | −1.6 | 28th | 49.2 | |||||
| West Coast (district 97) | ||||||||||||
| Hartz Mountain | 17.3 | −0.6 | 30.1 | 4th | 7.4 | +0.2 | 0.3 | 27th | 136.4 | 72.6 | high | 188% |
| Mount Read | 13.9 | −0.4 | 27.2 | 16th | 6.2 | +0.4 | −0.6 | 27th | 343.4 | 209.0 | high | 164% |
| Scotts Peak Dam | 20.4 | 33.9 | 16th | 10.0 | 4.0 | 27th | 208.4 | |||||
| Strahan Aerodrome | 21.0 | +0.5 | 31.3 | 4th | 12.1 | +1.5 | 7.2 | 9th | 165.6 | 92.4 | very high | 179% |
| Strathgordon Village | 20.0 | +0.7 | 30.5 | 16th | 10.3 | +0.8 | 5.2 | 27th | 283.6 | 153.8 | very high | 184% |
| Warra | 19.3 | 30.6 | 17th | 9.1 | 3.3 | 27th | 168.6 | |||||
| King Island (district 98) | ||||||||||||
| King Island Airport | 20.1 | −0.5 | 28.6 | 5th | 13.4 | +1.1 | 7.0 | 9th | 57.0 | 37.7 | high | 151% |
| Flinders Island (district 99) | ||||||||||||
| Flinders Island Airport | 22.9 | +1.0 | 33.2 | 5th | 15.2 | +2.0 | 7.1 | 15th | 20.4 | 46.7 | low | 44% |
| Hogan Island | 21.8 | 32.9 | 5th | 14.9 | 10.9 | 27th | 19.6 | |||||
| Macquarie Island (district 300) | ||||||||||||
| Macquarie Island | 8.9 | +0.2 | 12.2 | 31st | 5.2 | −0.1 | 2.0 | 6th | 102.2 | 83.9 | high | 122% |
Jump to: Extremes Records Summaries Notes the top
Notes
This statement has been prepared based on information available at 11am on Thursday 1 February 2007. Some checks have been made on the data, but it is possible that results will change as new information becomes available.
Normals 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. For rainfall, it is sometimes preferable to use the median rather than the mean to indicate "normal" 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,
normal in decile 4 to 7, high in
decile 8 or 9 and very high is in decile 10).
The Fraction of normal shows how much
rain has fallen this time as a
percentage
of the long-term mean.
Further information
Ian Barnes-Keoghan or Tom DelfattiTasmania and Antarctica Climate Services Centre
Bureau of Meteorology
Phone (03) 6221 2043
Email climate.tas@bom.gov.au