Monday, 1 June 2009 - Monthly Climate Summary for Tasmania - Product code IDCKGC17R0
Tasmania in May 2009: Wet in the west and dry in the east
Several cold fronts crossed the state in May, delivering over 500 mm of rain to Mount Read. In contrast, several sites in the east received less than 10 mm. Night time temperatures ranged from very cold to very warm, but days were mostly near or slightly warmer than usual until the end of the month.
An archive of previous monthly summaries for Tasmania is also available, as are summaries for other states and many other climate summaries and diagnostics.
Jump to: Extremes Records Summaries Notes the top
Details
Wet in the west and dry in the east: A
westerly airstream
with several cold fronts ensured that most of the rain in May fell in
the west, and resulted in a stark contrast between the highest rainfall
(over 500 mm at Mount Read) and the lowest (just 6 mm at St Helens).
Monthly totals
for some sites in the central east and northeast were
less than 10 mm (although it is not uncommon to have such a dry month
there; similar May totals have typically occurred once
every five
or so years).
The heaviest rain fell with cold fronts on the 14th and 15th. Mount
Read received 140.6 mm in the 24 hours to 9 am on the
15th, its
highest daily total since records began there in 1996, and 232.2 mm
over the two days, also a record. For
the whole month, it was drier
than
usual in the east, central north, Bass Strait and on the west coast but
rainfall was near or above average over the remainder.
Some very cold nights, and some very warm: Minimum temperatures during the month varied widely. The coldest temperature was −5.2°C, recorded at Liawenee on the 5th and Lake Leake on the 20th. Several other sites had sub-zero temperatures on these nights and also on the 18th and 19th, with very frosty conditions were reported around Ross and Cressy. In contrast, many overnight temperatures remained in the mid-teens between the 24th and 26th. Minima were up to ten degrees above average and several sites in the north and west had their warmest May night in over ten years. Tarraleah has its warmest May night on record on the 25th, beating the previous record by almost a degree. Mean minima for the month were mostly slightly above average, but were around a degree warmer than usual at a few sites in the Huon Valley and a little below average at a handful of sites.
No extreme daytime temperatures: The last few days of May were quite cold, and there were a few warm days around the 24th, but otherwise most daytime temperatures in May were near average. Mean maxima for the month were near average in the west, south and Bass Strait but half to one degree above average elsewhere. The last four days were below 15°C in Launceston, but these were the only cold days in a city that would normally have about 11 May days below 15°C; this ensured that Launceston had its warmest mean daily maximum for May. Hobart was also mild until the last four days when there were three days below 12°C; before that there were none. The cold conditions were caused by a slow moving high pressure system over the Bight which directed a cold southerly airflow over the state.
Wild and windy between the 14th and 17th: Though most of the weather in May was fairly benign, the period between the 14th and 17th was wild, windy and wet in most areas as a series of active cold fronts crossed the state. The first front crossed in the early hours of the 14th, bringing heavy falls to the western highlands, including around 50 mm to upper parts of the Huon River catchment which led to minor flooding in some parts of the Huon River. More heavy rain fell in the west and south on the following days, with plenty of snow on the 15th and 16th falling to as low as 350 metres. On the 16th swells reached over 6 metres on the south coast as a deep low pressure system crossed waters to the south of Tasmania. It was also very windy for the whole period, but especially so early on the 17th when gusts reached 139 km/h at Droughty Hill and 109 km/h in Hobart, causing extensive damage to trees and houses around Lenah Valley and West Hobart and some power outages. Conditions moderated on the 18th as a high pressure system moved near the state.
Further information
Ian Barnes-KeoghanMeteorologist
Tasmania and Antarctica Climate Services Centre
Bureau of Meteorology
Phone (03) 6221 2043
Email climate.tas@bom.gov.au
Extremes
| Hottest day Highest temperature |
20.6°C at Swansea Post Office on the 8th |
|---|---|
| Warmest days on average Highest mean daily maximum temperature |
17.4°C at Bicheno (Council Depot) |
| Coolest days on average Lowest mean daily maximum temperature |
5.7°C at Mount Wellington |
| Coldest day Lowest daily maximum temperature |
1.0°C at Mount Wellington on the 30th |
| Coldest night Lowest temperature |
−5.2°C at Liawenee on the 5th and Lake Leake (Elizabeth River) on the 20th |
| Coolest nights on average Lowest mean daily minimum temperature |
0.9°C at Liawenee |
| Warmest nights on average Highest mean daily minimum temperature |
11.6°C at Hogan Island |
| Warmest night Highest daily minimum temperature |
15.9°C at Bicheno (Council Depot) on the 26th |
| Wettest overall Highest total rainfall |
528.8 mm at Mount Read |
| Driest overall Lowest total rainfall |
6.0 mm at St Helens Aerodrome |
| Wettest day Highest daily rainfall |
140.6 mm at Mount Read on the 15th |
| Highest wind gust |
139 km/h at Cape Grim BAPS on the 16th |
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Records
| Record highest May mean daily maximum temperature | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Mean daily maximum temperature for May 2009 (°C) |
Previous highest for May |
Years of record |
Average for May |
||
| Launceston (Ti Tree Bend) | 16.8 | 16.6 | in 2007 | 27 | 15.8 |
| Record highest May daily minimum temperature | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Highest daily minimum temperature in May 2009 (°C) |
Previous highest for May |
Years of record |
Average for May |
|||
| Tarraleah Village | 11.9 | on the 25th | 11.0 | on the 2nd in 1997 | 26 | 2.4 |
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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 May 2009 | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maximum temperatures for May (°C) |
Minimum temperatures for May (°C) |
Rainfall for May (millimetres) |
||||||||||
| Mean for May 2009 |
Diff from average |
Highest for May 2009 |
Mean for May 2009 |
Diff from average |
Lowest for May 2009 |
Total for May 2009 |
Average for May |
Rank of May 2009 |
Fraction of May average |
|||
| Northern (district 91) | ||||||||||||
| Bridport | 16.2 | +0.3 | 18.6 | 4th | 8.2 | +0.3 | 3.5 | 18th | 9.8 | 65.1 | very low | 15% |
| Burnie | 16.0 | +0.7 | 19.8 | 8th | 9.4 | +1.1 | 3.8 | 18th | 51.2 | 94.2 | low | 54% |
| Cape Grim BAPS | 14.5 | −0.2 | 16.8 | 11th | 10.4 | +0.2 | 6.4 | 29th | 48.8 | 75.4 | average | 65% |
| Cressy Research Station | 15.7 | +0.9 | 19.1 | 8th | 3.2 | −0.3 | −4.7 | 18th | 21.4 | 39.2 | low | 55% |
| Devonport Airport | 15.9 | +0.6 | 18.6 | 23rd | 7.7 | +0.9 | 1.1 | 18th | 16.4 | 74.3 | very low | 22% |
| Launceston | 16.8 | +1.0 | 19.9 | 23rd | 5.2 | +0.1 | −0.2 | 31st | 12.8 | 62.3 | very low | 21% |
| Launceston Airport | 15.3 | 18.5 | 25th | 4.3 | −1.2 | 19th | 14.0 | |||||
| Launceston Airport Comparison | 14.8 | +0.8 | 17.7 | 25th | 4.6 | 0.0 | −1.4 | 19th | 16.4 | 60.0 | low | 27% |
| Low Head | 15.5 | +0.1 | 17.8 | 4th | 9.7 | +0.2 | 5.4 | 18th | 10.6 | 56.6 | very low | 19% |
| Luncheon Hill | 13.1 | +0.1 | 16.7 | 21st | 7.3 | +0.3 | 3.4 | 5th | 146.2 | 162.7 | average | 90% |
| Marrawah | 14.5 | −0.3 | 17.0 | 24th | 9.2 | +0.1 | 5.0 | 19th | 80.2 | 103.8 | low | 77% |
| Scottsdale | 15.3 | +0.4 | 18.1 | 8th | 6.0 | +0.1 | 1.6 | 6th | 17.8 | 99.8 | very low | 18% |
| Sheffield School Farm | 14.5 | +0.9 | 18.6 | 8th | 5.4 | −0.2 | 0.4 | 29th | 60.0 | 84.0 | low | 71% |
| Smithton Aerodrome | 15.4 | −0.1 | 18.0 | 24th | 6.6 | +0.3 | −1.0 | 19th | 76.8 | 82.0 | average | 94% |
| Wynyard Airport | 15.8 | +0.8 | 19.7 | 8th | 6.1 | +0.8 | −0.6 | 29th | 90.6 | 99.1 | average | 91% |
| East Coast (district 92) | ||||||||||||
| Bicheno | 17.4 | +0.9 | 19.8 | 15th | 9.6 | +1.2 | 5.5 | 5th | 12.0 | 56.0 | low | 21% |
| Eddystone Point | 17.3 | +1.5 | 19.7 | 4th | 10.2 | +0.5 | 6.4 | 19th | 9.8 | 66.2 | very low | 15% |
| Fingal | 15.8 | +0.5 | 19.1 | 8th | 3.1 | +0.3 | −3.2 | 5th | 8.4 | 49.8 | very low | 17% |
| Friendly Beaches | 20.5 | 8th | 8.7 | +0.4 | 2.5 | 20th | ||||||
| Lake Leake | 12.1 | +0.7 | 15.9 | 21st | 1.5 | −0.7 | −5.2 | 20th | 20.4 | 73.2 | low | 28% |
| Maria Island | 15.3 | 18.7 | 26th | 9.8 | 5.1 | 16th | 15.0 | |||||
| Orford | 15.7 | −0.1 | 19.3 | 8th | 6.3 | 0.0 | 1.4 | 20th | 15.2 | 57.5 | low | 26% |
| Scamander | 17.1 | +0.5 | 19.7 | 15th | 7.9 | +0.3 | 3.2 | 17th | 9.7 | 52.9 | very low | 18% |
| St Helens Aerodrome | 16.9 | 20.2 | 8th | 7.8 | 2.4 | 19th | 6.0 | |||||
| Swan Island | 16.0 | 18.3 | 20th | 10.9 | 6.5 | 28th | 13.0 | |||||
| Swansea Post Office | 16.3 | +0.3 | 20.6 | 8th | 6.2 | −0.1 | 0.2 | 20th | 10.4 | 46.1 | low | 23% |
| Midlands (district 93) | ||||||||||||
| Ross | 15.1 | +0.7 | 19.1 | 25th | 3.1 | −0.3 | −3.9 | 20th | 12.2 | 25.0 | average | 49% |
| Southeast (district 94) | ||||||||||||
| Bull Bay | 14.8 | −0.3 | 17.5 | 8th | 8.2 | +0.1 | 4.1 | 16th | 41.0 | 37.8 | average | 108% |
| Campania | 15.7 | 19.3 | 2nd | 6.0 | −0.5 | 19th | 32.6 | 27.9 | high | 117% | ||
| Cape Bruny | 13.8 | −0.6 | 17.7 | 23rd | 8.8 | +0.1 | 5.0 | 16th | 54.4 | 51.5 | average | 106% |
| Cape Bruny Lighthouse | 13.6 | +0.1 | 17.3 | 23rd | 8.6 | +0.4 | 3.3 | 17th | 70.6 | 84.0 | average | 84% |
| Dover | 14.4 | −0.4 | 19.4 | 23rd | 6.0 | +0.2 | 0.2 | 19th | 52.0 | 70.8 | average | 73% |
| Geeveston | 14.7 | +0.1 | 19.2 | 23rd | 6.1 | +1.5 | −0.7 | 19th | 86.8 | 70.7 | high | 123% |
| Grove | 14.8 | +0.2 | 18.7 | 24th | 5.6 | +1.3 | −1.8 | 1st | 67.0 | 59.2 | high | 113% |
| Grove | 14.6 | 18.6 | 24th | 5.2 | −0.9 | 1st | 71.6 | |||||
| Hobart | 15.5 | +1.1 | 19.3 | 23rd | 7.9 | +0.9 | 3.1 | 19th | 54.2 | 46.5 | average | 117% |
| Hobart Airport | 15.5 | +0.3 | 19.2 | 8th | 7.2 | +0.6 | 1.8 | 19th | 31.0 | 34.5 | average | 90% |
| Maatsuyker Island Lighthouse | 12.7 | −0.1 | 19.1 | 23rd | 9.1 | +0.7 | 4.2 | 16th | 96.0 | 115.2 | average | 83% |
| Melton Mowbray | 14.0 | −0.3 | 17.4 | 23rd | 5.2 | +0.8 | −2.0 | 20th | 27.8 | 24.8 | average | 112% |
| Mount Wellington | 5.7 | +0.1 | 10.8 | 20th | 1.0 | +0.5 | −2.3 | 14th | ||||
| Tasman Island | 12.7 | 15.6 | 3rd | 8.4 | 3.7 | 16th | 59.2 | |||||
| Tunnack Fire Station | 12.3 | −0.2 | 15.7 | 3rd | 4.1 | +0.4 | −1.2 | 19th | 41.4 | 39.6 | average | 105% |
| Derwent Valley (district 95) | ||||||||||||
| Bushy Park | 14.8 | +0.5 | 19.4 | 23rd | 4.7 | +0.6 | −1.3 | 1st | 29.0 | 45.4 | average | 64% |
| Maydena Post Office | 13.0 | −0.1 | 17.6 | 23rd | 5.4 | +1.1 | −0.7 | 1st | 107.4 | 96.3 | average | 112% |
| Ouse Fire Station | 14.5 | −0.5 | 18.7 | 23rd | 4.3 | +0.5 | −1.7 | 20th | 37.8 | 32.0 | high | 118% |
| Tarraleah Village | 11.4 | +0.3 | 16.1 | 21st | 3.5 | +1.0 | −1.7 | 19th | 112.7 | 102.4 | high | 110% |
| Central Plateau (district 96) | ||||||||||||
| Butlers Gorge | 10.6 | +0.7 | 15.7 | 21st | 2.6 | +0.9 | −4.3 | 20th | 160.6 | 160.5 | average | 100% |
| Lake St Clair National Park | 10.2 | −0.2 | 14.4 | 21st | 2.0 | +0.4 | −3.8 | 19th | 179.2 | 167.7 | average | 107% |
| Liawenee | 9.4 | 14.4 | 19th | 0.9 | −5.2 | 5th | 43.2 | |||||
| West Coast (district 97) | ||||||||||||
| Hartz Mountain | 8.2 | −0.5 | 14.7 | 21st | 3.6 | +0.2 | −0.7 | 16th | 83.2 | 70.2 | average | 119% |
| Mount Read | 6.5 | 0.0 | 11.5 | 20th | 2.3 | 0.0 | −1.8 | 16th | 528.8 | 417.4 | high | 127% |
| Scotts Peak Dam | 11.7 | +0.2 | 18.0 | 23rd | 5.6 | 0.0 | 2.0 | 19th | 161.6 | |||
| Strahan Aerodrome | 14.1 | −0.1 | 19.3 | 23rd | 7.2 | −0.2 | 0.8 | 30th | 133.2 | 136.4 | average | 98% |
| Strathgordon Village | 11.4 | −0.1 | 16.8 | 23rd | 313.9 | 242.7 | high | 129% | ||||
| Warra | 11.2 | 15.6 | 24th | 5.1 | 1.1 | 19th | 195.8 | |||||
| King Island (district 98) | ||||||||||||
| King Island Airport | 15.6 | 0.0 | 17.3 | 24th | 9.7 | +0.4 | 3.2 | 5th | 36.0 | 85.1 | very low | 42% |
| Flinders Island (district 99) | ||||||||||||
| Flinders Island Airport | 16.3 | +0.1 | 19.1 | 21st | 8.8 | −0.2 | −0.1 | 19th | 26.0 | 79.5 | very low | 33% |
| Hogan Island | 15.4 | 17.7 | 24th | 11.6 | 7.3 | 16th | 37.0 | |||||
| Antarctica and Macquarie Island (district 300) | ||||||||||||
| Macquarie Island | 6.0 | +0.1 | 7.5 | 22nd | 3.5 | +1.0 | 0.3 | 8th | 56.2 | 82.9 | low | 68% |
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Notes
This statement has been prepared based on information available at 9 am on Monday 1 June 2009. Some checks have been made on the data, but it is possible that results will change as new information becomes available.
Averages 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.
Further information
Ian Barnes-KeoghanMeteorologist
Tasmania and Antarctica Climate Services Centre
Bureau of Meteorology
Phone (03) 6221 2043
Email climate.tas@bom.gov.au