Tuesday 1 May 2007 - Monthly Climate Summary for Tasmania - Product code IDCKGC17R0
Tasmania in April 2007
A dry month despite some rains
Summary
Despite some rain toward the end of the month, most of the
state
received below average rainfall for April. Some sites in the
west,
north coast and Midlands had their driest April on record,
while the only areas to receive near-average rain were on the east and
southeast coastal fringes. Both daytime and overnight temperatures were
above average across
most of the state.
Jump to: Extremes Records Summaries Notes the top
Details
Very dry across the state: A pattern of slow moving high pressure systems during the first half of the month ensured that most of the state remained dry: a few weak cold fronts brought only light and patchy rain to the south and west. More rain fell during the third week, but most of the action was in the last two days, as a complex low pressure system passed over Bass Strait, bringing significant falls to the north and southeast, with some locally heavy falls to the east. Despite this, rainfall was still well below average at most sites, with record low April rain at some sites in the west, the north and the Midlands.
A few warm days: There were many warm days during the month, especially in the second and third weeks and particularly on the 9th and 10th, when temperatures approached 30°C and Burnie and Wynyard had their highest April temperature on record. There were also a few cool days, particularly around the beginning and end of the month. Overall, temperatures were about 1°C warmer than average over most of the state and 2°C warmer in parts of the southeast and northwest of the state: Wynyard had its warmest April on record.Mainly warm overnight : The warm days of the second and third weeks were accompanied by mild nights, and in the last week overcast conditions and persistent easterlies helped to keep temperatures up overnight, at least in the eastern half. Mean minimum temperatures for the month were mostly above average, typically by around 1°C.
Long term rainfall still well below average: This
April is the latest in a long line of relatively dry months. Rainfall
for the 16 months from January 2006 to April 2007 shows a broad swathe
of record low rainfall for the entire north coast, the northeast,
Midlands and parts of the southeast and Derwent Valley; all
other areas are also below average.
Rainfall for the first four months
of 2007 is below average
across most of the state, although areas that were especially wet
in January and March (notably the southeast, Derwent Valley
and
East Coast) are closer to average.
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 |
27.4°C at Campania (Kincora) on the 9th |
|---|---|
| Warmest days on average Highest mean daily maximum temperature |
20.2°C at Launceston (Ti Tree Bend) |
| Coolest days on average Lowest mean daily maximum temperature | 8.9°C at Mount Wellington |
| Coldest day Lowest daily maximum temperature |
2.8°C at Mount Wellington on the 24th |
| Coldest night Lowest temperature |
−5.5°C at Liawenee on the 7th |
| Coolest nights on average Lowest mean daily minimum temperature |
1.4°C at Liawenee |
| Warmest nights on average Highest mean daily minimum temperature |
13.9°C at Hogan Island |
| Warmest night Highest daily minimum temperature |
17.3°C at Bicheno (Council Depot) on the 10th |
| Wettest overall Highest total rainfall |
112.6 mm at Mount Wellington |
| Driest overall Lowest total rainfall |
3.0 mm at Campbell Town (Elizabeth R) and Oatlands Post Office |
| Wettest day Highest daily rainfall |
57.6 mm at St Marys (Clive Street) on the 29th |
| Highest wind gust |
115 km/h at Mount Wellington on the 10th |
Jump to: Extremes Records Summaries Notes the top
Records
| Record lowest total April rainfall | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total rainfall for April 2007 (mm) |
Previous lowest for April |
Years of record |
Normal for April |
||
| Oatlands Post Office | 3.0 | 5.8 | in 1923 | 119 | 47.0 |
| Lake Margaret Power Station | 68.0 | 81.2 | in 2002 | 62 | 249.1 |
| Strathgordon Village | 59.6 | 73.6 | in 2002 | 39 | 203.9 |
| Scottsdale (West Minstone Road) | 16.2 | 19.0 | in 1987 | 37 | 80.7 |
| Launceston (Ti Tree Bend) | 4.4 | 17.4 | in 2002 | 27 | 51.0 |
| Campbell Town (Elizabeth R) | 3.0 | 3.6 | in 1967 | 21 | 39.5 |
| Lowest total April rainfall for at least 20 years | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total rainfall for April 2007 (mm) |
Most recent lower for April |
Years since lower |
Normal for April |
||
| Lilydale Post Office | 11.6 | 7.4 | in 1927 | 78 | 78.1 |
| Ringarooma (Fry Street) | 10.6 | 9.8 | in 1927 | 75 | 89.3 |
| Waratah (Mount Road) | 37.6 | 7.8 | in 1923 | 65 | 173.9 |
| Cape Sorell | 28.6 | 13.3 | in 1923 | 59 | 111.5 |
| Burnie (Round Hill) | 20.6 | 7.7 | in 1963 | 44 | 75.3 |
| Launceston Airport Comparison | 11.2 | 4.6 | in 1963 | 44 | 54.4 |
| Ulverstone (Knights Road) | 13.6 | 5.0 | in 1963 | 42 | 73.6 |
| York Plains (Handroyd) | 9.2 | 7.5 | in 1967 | 40 | 49.4 |
| Woodbridge | 25.8 | 18.0 | in 1945 | 38 | 80.6 |
| Forthside Research Station | 14.0 | 12.0 | in 1977 | 30 | 73.7 |
| Record highest April temperature | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Highest temperature in April 2007 (°C) |
Previous highest for April |
Years of record |
Normal for April |
|||
| Burnie (Round Hill) | 26.2 | on the 10th | 25.6 | on the 13th in 1973 | 43 | 17.7 |
| Wynyard Airport | 27.2 | on the 10th | 26.5 | on the 1st in 2005 | 22 | 17.2 |
| Record highest April mean daily maximum temperature | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mean daily maximum temperature for April 2007 (°C) |
Previous highest for April |
Years of record |
Normal for April |
||
| Wynyard Airport | 19.2 | 19.0 | in 2005 | 23 | 17.2 |
16-month rainfall records
| Record lowest total 16-month January to April rainfall | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total rainfall for January 2006 to April 2007 (mm) |
Previous lowest for the 16 months January to April |
Years of record |
Normal for the 16 months January to April |
||
| Oatlands Post Office | 406.5 | 481.0 | in 1967 | 115 | 721.7 |
| Sorell (Whitlea) | 475.0 | 479.0 | in 1979 | 111 | 726.7 |
| Frankford (Rossville) | 700.8 | 860.5 | in 1914 | 109 | 1303.9 |
| Pioneer (Main Road) | 665.0 | 785.8 | in 1914 | 98 | 1193.9 |
| Ulverstone (Knights Road) | 625.8 | 737.4 | in 1919 | 97 | 1166.1 |
| Yolla (Sea View) | 997.8 | 1207.9 | in 1919 | 97 | 1768.6 |
| Waratah (Mount Road) | 1873.8 | 1896.5 | in 1891 | 96 | 2695.9 |
| Ringarooma (Fry Street) | 946.2 | 1025.4 | in 1987 | 95 | 1484.1 |
| Latrobe (Coal Road) | 647.3 | 740.6 | in 1914 | 93 | 1163.1 |
| Irishtown | 931.2 | 1014.5 | in 1940 | 92 | 1458.7 |
| Eddystone Point | 537.2 | 540.6 | in 1997 | 91 | 984.9 |
| York Plains (Handroyd) | 463.8 | 506.4 | in 1979 | 87 | 734.1 |
| Mole Creek | 657.0 | 766.3 | in 1950 | 86 | 1380.8 |
| Elliott Research Station | 810.6 | 902.8 | in 1919 | 70 | 1438.0 |
| Bagdad Post Office | 486.4 | 488.1 | in 1999 | 67 | 756.9 |
| Burnie (Round Hill) | 522.3 | 767.4 | in 1987 | 54 | 1180.3 |
| Grove (Comparison) | 687.4 | 700.6 | in 1999 | 52 | 953.3 |
| Lady Barron (Franklin Parade) | 642.5 | 713.2 | in 1997 | 51 | 953.9 |
| Fort Direction | 432.2 | 483.7 | in 1982 | 45 | 700.8 |
| Lorinna | 959.2 | 1144.7 | in 1919 | 43 | 1635.0 |
| Devonport Airport | 433.5 | 678.4 | in 1994 | 41 | 964.3 |
| Pyengana (Forest Lodge Road) | 1031.8 | 1056.0 | in 1967 | 38 | 1564.3 |
| Barrington Post Office | 708.8 | 972.2 | in 1987 | 37 | 1391.5 |
| Taroona (Taroona Crescent) | 538.0 | 554.2 | in 1979 | 37 | 848.5 |
| Forthside Research Station | 603.2 | 860.0 | in 1987 | 34 | 1219.3 |
| Rotherwood | 503.4 | 603.9 | in 1979 | 34 | 768.1 |
| Scottsdale (West Minstone Road) | 728.4 | 822.6 | in 1987 | 34 | 1226.3 |
| Memana (Babel Farm) | 583.0 | 817.5 | in 1967 | 33 | 1004.5 |
| Wynyard Airport | 641.8 | 980.8 | in 2002 | 31 | 1192.9 |
| King Island Airport | 808.6 | 867.2 | in 1997 | 27 | 1032.0 |
| Launceston (Ti Tree Bend) | 479.6 | 642.6 | in 1987 | 25 | 833.0 |
| Bull Bay (Lauriston) | 570.5 | 593.4 | in 1987 | 23 | 792.3 |
| Scamander | 530.6 | 610.7 | in 1979 | 21 | 865.7 |
| Lowest total 16-month January to April rainfall for at least 20 years | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total rainfall for January 2006 to April 2007 (mm) |
Most recent lower for the 16 months January to April |
Years since lower |
Normal for the 16 months January to April |
||
| Maatsuyker Island Lighthouse | 1105.3 | 1057.4 | in 1908 | 98 | 1580.1 |
| Deal Island | 536.9 | 462.3 | in 1914 | 86 | 900.7 |
| Lake Leake (Elizabeth River) | 710.8 | 652.0 | in 1919 | 85 | 1067.7 |
| St Marys (Clive Street) | 779.6 | 757.2 | in 1919 | 84 | 1336.9 |
| Yambacoona | 817.2 | 778.4 | in 1925 | 74 | 1068.0 |
| Bicheno (Council Depot) | 557.9 | 499.6 | in 1922 | 68 | 924.5 |
| City of Melbourne Bay | 978.2 | 949.8 | in 1941 | 65 | 1265.3 |
| Bushy Park (Bushy Park Estates) | 495.0 | 488.3 | in 1961 | 44 | 740.6 |
| Fingal (Legge Street) | 500.0 | 457.8 | in 1961 | 43 | 789.4 |
| Levendale | 685.2 | 621.2 | in 1919 | 43 | 981.6 |
| Avoca (Railway House) | 480.4 | 443.4 | in 1961 | 41 | 709.3 |
| Gladstone (Old Post Office) | 768.8 | 741.7 | in 1966 | 34 | 1065.0 |
| Hobart (Ellerslie Road) | 542.2 | 512.2 | in 1979 | 27 | 802.7 |
| Hobart Airport | 468.2 | 443.8 | in 1979 | 27 | 657.4 |
| Orford (Aubin Court) | 565.4 | 559.0 | in 1979 | 27 | 874.5 |
| Eaglehawk Neck (Jetty Road) | 879.8 | 828.5 | in 1968 | 24 | 1148.5 |
| Lewis Hill (St Pauls River) | 527.4 | 468.6 | in 1979 | 24 | 820.3 |
Jump to: Extremes Records Summaries Notes the top
Summaries
In this table, key sites have been highlighted to make them easier to find. This table is very wide and may not fit if printed.
| Summary statistics for April 2007 | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maximum temperatures for April (°C) |
Minimum temperatures for April (°C) |
Rainfall for April (millimetres) |
||||||||||
| Mean for April 2007 |
Diff from normal |
Highest for April 2007 |
Mean for April 2007 |
Diff from normal |
Lowest for April 2007 |
Total for April 2007 |
Normal for April |
Rank of April 2007 |
Fraction of April normal |
|||
| Northern (district 91) | ||||||||||||
| Bridport | 19.3 | +1.3 | 23.5 | 15th | 10.5 | +1.3 | 6.4 | 3rd | 15.4 | 52.8 | very low | 29% |
| Burnie | 19.1 | +1.5 | 26.2 | 10th | 12.0 | +2.1 | 7.4 | 7th | 20.6 | 75.3 | very low | 27% |
| Cape Grim | 17.6 | +1.3 | 21.5 | 15th | 12.2 | +0.9 | 8.5 | 24th | 74.4 | 67.0 | normal | 111% |
| Cressy | 19.9 | 26.4 | 10th | 5.9 | −0.5 | 7th | 9.8 | |||||
| Devonport Airport | 19.1 | +1.7 | 23.5 | 10th | 9.7 | +1.4 | 6.3 | 6th | 13.8 | 61.0 | very low | 23% |
| Launceston | 20.2 | +1.4 | 24.6 | 15th | 7.9 | +0.5 | 3.1 | 7th | 4.4 | 51.0 | lowest | 9% |
| Launceston Airport | 19.5 | 25.7 | 10th | 7.2 | 2.6 | 7th | 9.6 | |||||
| Launceston Ap Comparison | 18.8 | +1.4 | 25.0 | 10th | 7.4 | +0.8 | 2.1 | 7th | 11.2 | 54.4 | very low | 21% |
| Low Head | 18.9 | +1.4 | 21.5 | 22nd | 11.6 | +0.9 | 8.3 | 3rd | 11.0 | 54.5 | very low | 20% |
| Luncheon Hill | 17.6 | +2.3 | 24.8 | 15th | 9.3 | +1.5 | 5.1 | 6th | 36.0 | 99.5 | very low | 36% |
| Marrawah | 18.3 | +1.5 | 23.3 | 15th | 10.9 | +0.7 | 7.2 | 12th | 34.4 | 86.0 | very low | 40% |
| Powranna | 19.2 | +1.6 | 25.8 | 10th | 6.2 | +0.2 | 0.6 | 7th | 14.8 | 44.4 | very low | 33% |
| Scottsdale | 19.0 | +1.1 | 24.1 | 10th | 8.3 | +0.5 | 3.0 | 3rd | 16.2 | 80.7 | lowest | 20% |
| Sheffield | 18.5 | +2.1 | 25.0 | 10th | 7.6 | +0.8 | 2.8 | 24th | 31.0 | 56.4 | low | 55% |
| Smithton | 19.1 | +1.6 | 25.8 | 10th | 9.0 | +1.8 | 3.1 | 13th | 31.2 | 56.2 | low | 56% |
| Wynyard | 19.2 | +1.9 | 27.2 | 10th | 8.5 | +1.7 | 3.3 | 4th | 27.0 | 74.2 | low | 36% |
| East Coast (district 92) | ||||||||||||
| Bicheno | 19.1 | +0.2 | 26.0 | 10th | 11.3 | +1.1 | 7.4 | 12th | 36.3 | 60.6 | normal | 60% |
| Eddystone Point | 19.6 | +1.6 | 25.2 | 10th | 12.9 | +1.5 | 9.6 | 12th | 8.6 | 65.5 | very low | 13% |
| Fingal | 18.2 | −0.1 | 24.2 | 15th | 6.2 | +0.8 | −1.0 | 7th | 12.0 | 52.4 | low | 23% |
| Friendly Beaches | 18.9 | +0.3 | 26.8 | 10th | 10.3 | +0.8 | 5.4 | 4th | ||||
| Lake Leake | 14.9 | +0.8 | 21.6 | 15th | 4.5 | +0.4 | −1.2 | 4th | 23.6 | 70.4 | low | 34% |
| Maria Island | 17.9 | 23.2 | 10th | 11.8 | 8.7 | 12th | 34.8 | |||||
| Orford | 18.0 | −0.4 | 24.8 | 9th | 9.4 | +1.1 | 4.0 | 8th | 33.0 | 59.1 | low | 56% |
| Scamander | 19.1 | +0.3 | 26.8 | 10th | 10.9 | +1.5 | 6.4 | 12th | 47.4 | 69.3 | normal | 68% |
| St Helens | 18.9 | 25.8 | 10th | 10.5 | 5.7 | 12th | 36.0 | |||||
| Swan Island | 18.8 | 21.7 | 15th | 13.3 | 10.7 | 3rd | 29.0 | |||||
| Swansea Post Office | 18.5 | −0.2 | 26.7 | 10th | 9.3 | +1.1 | 3.7 | 12th | 39.2 | 51.6 | normal | 76% |
| Midlands (district 93) | ||||||||||||
| Ross | 19.1 | +1.9 | 26.6 | 10th | 6.9 | +1.4 | −0.1 | 7th | 5.6 | 38.7 | very low | 14% |
| Southeast (district 94) | ||||||||||||
| Bull Bay | 17.6 | +0.4 | 26.0 | 9th | 9.7 | +0.2 | 6.5 | 13th | 36.0 | 47.4 | normal | 76% |
| Campania | 19.0 | 27.4 | 9th | 7.7 | 1.6 | 12th | 21.4 | |||||
| Cape Bruny | 16.7 | +0.5 | 24.8 | 9th | 10.3 | +0.7 | 6.8 | 26th | 60.6 | 53.1 | normal | 114% |
| Cape Bruny Lighthouse | 16.0 | +0.5 | 24.3 | 9th | 10.5 | +0.9 | 6.9 | 26th | 70.2 | 80.4 | normal | 87% |
| Dover | 17.3 | +0.6 | 25.9 | 9th | 7.0 | −0.1 | 1.2 | 26th | 35.6 | 67.2 | low | 53% |
| Geeveston | 17.8 | +0.8 | 26.1 | 13th | 6.7 | +0.6 | −0.5 | 26th | 25.4 | 63.3 | low | 40% |
| Grove Comparison | 18.3 | +0.8 | 27.0 | 13th | 6.1 | −0.2 | −0.2 | 12th | 28.6 | 62.1 | low | 46% |
| Grove | 18.2 | 26.5 | 13th | 5.4 | −0.9 | 12th | 29.0 | |||||
| Hobart | 17.5 | +0.2 | 26.0 | 9th | 9.7 | +0.8 | 5.7 | 3rd | 25.8 | 51.4 | low | 50% |
| Hobart Airport | 18.3 | +0.3 | 27.2 | 9th | 9.1 | +0.4 | 1.8 | 12th | 20.4 | 43.6 | low | 47% |
| Maatsuyker Island | 15.0 | +0.6 | 21.0 | 9th | 10.6 | +1.2 | 8.5 | 25th | 47.6 | 109.3 | very low | 44% |
| Melton Mowbray | 18.0 | +1.0 | 25.7 | 9th | 6.7 | +1.3 | 0.7 | 12th | 12.6 | 30.3 | low | 42% |
| Mount Wellington | 8.9 | +0.6 | 16.3 | 14th | 3.3 | +1.2 | −0.8 | 7th | 112.6 | 86.1 | high | 131% |
| Tasman Island | 15.2 | 21.5 | 9th | 10.2 | 8.2 | 7th | 33.0 | |||||
| Tunnack | 16.1 | +1.1 | 23.8 | 9th | 5.4 | +0.5 | −0.3 | 3rd | 13.6 | 45.7 | low | 30% |
| Derwent Valley (district 95) | ||||||||||||
| Bushy Park | 19.6 | +1.7 | 27.1 | 9th | 6.4 | +0.2 | 0.8 | 13th | 10.6 | 47.2 | very low | 22% |
| Maydena | 17.2 | +1.4 | 24.5 | 9th | 5.7 | +0.5 | 0.0 | 26th | 32.1 | 88.8 | very low | 36% |
| Moogara | 15.4 | +2.0 | 22.2 | 13th | 6.5 | +1.4 | 0.4 | 4th | 20.8 | 60.9 | very low | 34% |
| Ouse | 19.4 | 26.4 | 9th | 5.8 | −0.9 | 8th | ||||||
| Tarraleah | 14.8 | +1.0 | 21.2 | 9th | 3.6 | −0.4 | −1.8 | 12th | 34.1 | 96.2 | very low | 35% |
| Central Plateau (district 96) | ||||||||||||
| Lake St Clair | 14.5 | +1.7 | 21.0 | 13th | 2.6 | 0 | −2.6 | 12th | 41.6 | 137.4 | very low | 30% |
| Liawenee | 13.5 | 19.2 | 15th | 1.4 | −5.5 | 7th | 24.8 | |||||
| West Coast (district 97) | ||||||||||||
| Hartz Mountains | 12.6 | +1.9 | 21.3 | 13th | 5.5 | +1.3 | 2.3 | 26th | 55.6 | 65.3 | low | 85% |
| Mount Read | 10.9 | +2.2 | 17.5 | 15th | 4.4 | +1.3 | 0.2 | 6th | 90.8 | 256.8 | very low | 35% |
| Scotts Peak Dam | 16.1 | 22.7 | 14th | 7.0 | 1.6 | 26th | 42.8 | |||||
| Strahan Aerodrome | 17.8 | +1.4 | 24.4 | 9th | 8.2 | 0 | 2.8 | 27th | 36.4 | 111.9 | very low | 33% |
| Strathgordon | 15.2 | +1.2 | 21.4 | 13th | 6.7 | −0.2 | 2.1 | 25th | 59.6 | 203.9 | lowest | 29% |
| Warra | 14.1 | 21.8 | 9th | 6.7 | 1.4 | 26th | 47.2 | |||||
| King Island (district 98) | ||||||||||||
| King Island Airport | 19.0 | +1.6 | 24.8 | 9th | 10.7 | +0.5 | 3.0 | 13th | 39.2 | 56.0 | low | 70% |
| Flinders Island (district 99) | ||||||||||||
| Flinders Island Airport | 19.6 | +1.0 | 23.4 | 10th | 10.5 | −0.2 | 3.1 | 7th | 48.2 | 59.7 | normal | 81% |
| Hogan Island | 18.9 | 23.6 | 14th | 13.9 | 11.8 | 7th | 51.0 | |||||
| Macquarie Island (district 300) | ||||||||||||
| Macquarie Island | 6.8 | −0.2 | 8.1 | 24th | 3.5 | −0.1 | −1.0 | 13th | 89.4 | 93.6 | normal | 96% |
Jump to: Extremes Records Summaries Notes the top
Notes
This statement has been prepared based on information available at 10 am on Tuesday 1 May 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.
The median
is sometimes more representative than the
mean
of "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