Monday, 3 May 2010 - Monthly Climate Summary for Tasmania - Product code IDCKGC27R0

Tasmania in April 2010: chilly blast caps a mild month

April 2010 was a mild month in Tasmania, but a cold spell in the final week meant few records for warm weather were broken for the month. In April, the southeast was relatively dry, but the central north and Midlands were wet.

  • Mild, until the last week
  • No especially cold days
  • No particularly "hot" days
  • Warm year so far and a record warm 12 months

Details Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top

A mild month

Averaged over the whole month, temperatures were above normal across the state. Had it not been for the cool final week, many records would have been broken. Overnight (minimum) temperatures were particularly mild (Launceston and Wynyard had their highest April mean daily minimum temperature on record and several other sites including Hobart had their highest since 1989). Daytime (maximum) temperatures were also unusually warm, mostly because of a lack of especially cold days. Most sites had temperatures 1.5 to 2 °C above average. Although temperatures were above normal overall, there were no particularly "hot" days: the highest temperature for the month was just 25.4 °C, at Launceston on the 19th.

Chilly blast at the end

A cold front on the 24th brought an end to the extended run of mild weather. Temperatures on the 25th struggled to reach 15 °C in the south and west, and together with lower humidity and fresh winds brought a distinct feeling of approaching winter. The morning of the 26th was especially cold, with several sites having minima well below zero (Liawenee dipped to -5.6 °C). Another front on the 28th brought winds stronger than had been seen for many months. Maatsuyker Island recorded a gust to 144 km/h — the strongest gust there since September 2009. The fronts also brought rain or showers, especially to the western half.

Dry in the southeast, wet in the central north

Moderate to heavy rain fell in the north and west on several occasions, notably around the 7th, 11th, 21st, and from the 23rd on. Some very heavy individual falls were reported, with Mount Barrow (in the northeast) getting 96 mm in the 24 hours to 9 am on the 8th, and Mount Read (in the west) 95 mm to 9 am on the 12th (a day when Strahan had 38 mm, its highest April daily rainfall on record). Moderate falls were common in the west during the final week. Most of the southeast saw only light showers even on those days, and had a drier than average April (considerably drier than April 2009).

Not quite a record April in Hobart

Hobart was among the sites that were on track to have a record warm April until the final week's cool weather. Instead, Hobart had some "near misses": 19.3 °C was the highest mean daily maximum since 1993, and 10.7 °C the highest mean daily minimum since 1990; on both measures Hobart had its equal-3rd-warmest April since comparable records began in 1896. The mean daily temperature of 15.0 °C was 1.9 °C above average and the 2nd-warmest April on record. Although mild overall, the temperature did not get above 23 °C, but did drop to a chilly 3.6 °C on the 26th. The 16 mm of rain was well below the April average of 51 mm.

A warm year so far, and a record warm 12 months

Tasmania has had its warmest 12-month period since records began, recording a mean temperature from May 2009 to April 2010 of 11.43 °C, 1.08 °C above the 1961-90 normal and 0.09 °C clear of the previous record from May 1988 to April 1989.
The average temperature across Tasmania in April was 1.35 °C above normal, the second-warmest April since comparable records began in 1950. The cool end to April stands in stark contrast to most of 2010 so far. Averaged across Tasmania, it has been the warmest January-to-April since comparable records began in 1950, with a mean temperature 1.39 °C above normal, 0.10 °C warmer than the previous record from 1971. Days have been especially mild: the mean maximum temperature for Tasmania over the last four months is more than 2 °C above average. The combination of long-term global warming and a moderate El Niño event in the Pacific Ocean during late 2009 and early 2010 have led to very high temperatures globally, across the Southern Hemisphere and across Australia. These high temperatures have been reflected in many long-run records being broken in Australia, including records for extreme heat, for the persistence of heat, and records for the absence of cold.

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Extremes in April 2010
Hottest day 25.4 °C at Launceston (Ti Tree Bend) on the 19th
Warmest days on average 20.4 °C at Eddystone Point
Coolest days on average 9.4 °C at Mount Read
Coldest day 3.7 °C at Mount Wellington on the 25th
Coldest night -5.6 °C at Liawenee on the 26th
Coolest nights on average 3.1 °C at Liawenee
Warmest nights on average 14.2 °C at Hogan Island
Warmest night 17.7 °C at Swan Island on the 7th
Wettest overall 488.6 mm at Mount Read
Driest overall 11.8 mm at Brighton
Wettest day 95.6 mm at Mount Barrow (South Barrow) on the 8th
Highest wind gust 144 km/h at Maatsuyker Island Lighthouse on the 28th

Details Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top

Rainfall maps

Total Percentage Decile rank
Total
rainfall		 Map of Rainfall totals Map of Percentage of normal rainfall Map of Rainfall deciles
Temperature maps

Mean Anomaly Decile rank
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
Record highest April daily rainfall

Highest daily rainfall
in April 2010 (mm) 		Previous wettest
for April		 Years of
record
Strahan Aerodrome 38.2 on the 12th 32.2 on the 24th in 1995 24

Record highest April mean daily maximum temperature

Mean daily maximum
temperature
for April 2010 (°C) 		Previous warmest
for April		 Years of
record		 Average for
April
Eddystone Point 20.4 19.9 in 2005 51 18.1


Record highest April mean daily minimum temperature

Mean daily minimum
temperature
for April 2010 (°C) 		Previous warmest
for April		 Years of
record		 Average for
April
Launceston (Ti Tree Bend) 9.5 8.9 in 1981 26 7.5
Wynyard Airport 9.9 9.2 in 1961 24 7.0
Dover 8.2 8.0 in 2002 20 7.0

Highest April mean daily minimum temperature for at least 20 years

Mean daily minimum
temperature
for April 2010 (°C) 		Most recent April
at least this warm		 Years since
warmer		 Average for
April
Burnie (Round Hill) 12.3 13.0 in 1989 21 10.0
Bushy Park (Bushy Park Estates) 7.2 8.1 in 1989 21 6.2
Cape Bruny Lighthouse 11.4 11.5 in 1989 21 9.6
Maatsuyker Island Lighthouse 10.9 11.6 in 1989 21 9.4
Marrawah 11.5 11.6 in 1989 21 10.2
Scottsdale (West Minstone Road) 9.8 10.4 in 1989 21 7.9
Hobart (Ellerslie Road) 10.7 =10.7 in 1990 20 8.9


Details Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top


Summary statistics for April 2010

Maximum temperatures
for April
(°C)		 Minimum temperatures
for April
(°C)		 Rainfall
for April
(millimetres)
Mean for
April
2010		 Diff
from
average		 Highest for
April
2010		 Mean for
April
2010		 Diff
from
average		 Lowest for
April
2010		 Total for
April
2010		 Average
for
April		 Rank of
April
2010		 Fraction of
April
average
Northern (district 91)
Bridport (Sea View Villas) 19.0 +0.9 24.1 8th 11.1 +1.8 5.6 30th 77.7 58.0 high 134%
Burnie (Round Hill) 18.7 +1.0 21.0 18th 12.3 +2.3 5.8 26th 85.0 75.1 average 113%
Cape Grim BAPS 17.1 +0.7 20.3 7th 12.6 +1.3 9.3 12th 77.0 67.8 average 114%
Cressy Research Station 19.1 +1.0 23.8 19th 7.1 +1.8 -0.6 26th 60.0 45.0 high 133%
Devonport Airport 18.8 +1.2 21.9 8th 11.1 +2.6 3.5 26th 85.6 61.4 high 139%
Launceston (Ti Tree Bend) 20.2 +1.4 25.4 19th 9.5 +2.0 3.0 26th 90.6 53.0 high 171%
Launceston Airport 18.9   23.7 19th 8.2   2.1 26th 68.8


Low Head 18.6 +1.0 21.8 8th 13.1 +2.2 7.7 26th 80.2 56.8 average 141%
Luncheon Hill (Forestry) 15.7 +0.2 22.0 18th 9.7 +1.8 5.4 26th 137.4 105.7 high 130%
Marrawah 17.0 +0.2 20.4 18th 11.5 +1.3 7.5 9th 109.2 86.3 high 127%
Scottsdale (West Minstone Road) 18.4 +0.4 22.8 18th 9.8 +1.9 4.0 30th 97.0 81.2 high 119%
Sheffield School Farm 16.8 +0.3 21.8 18th 8.8 +1.9 0.8 26th 98.2 65.1 high 151%
Smithton Aerodrome 18.2 +0.6 20.9 7th 10.3 +2.8 3.5 26th 82.2 59.8 high 137%
Wynyard Airport 18.5 +1.1 21.3 1st 9.9 +2.9 1.2 26th 88.0 74.5 average 118%
East Coast (district 92)
Bicheno (Council Depot) 20.3 +1.5 22.9 24th 11.2 +1.0 6.9 28th 14.4 59.1 low 24%
Eddystone Point 20.4 +2.3 24.0 8th 12.7 +1.3 7.3 13th 34.8 64.6 low 54%
Fingal (Legge Street) 19.3 +1.0 24.4 18th 6.6 +1.2 -1.1 26th 38.8 51.9 average 75%
Friendly Beaches 19.7 +1.1 22.9 22nd 10.7 +1.1 3.4 26th 14.0 47.5 low 29%
Lake Leake (Elizabeth River) 15.1 +1.0 21.2 19th 4.9 +0.8 -2.2 26th 78.8 69.8 average 113%
Maria Island (Point Lesueur) 18.7   23.4 18th 12.4   7.5 26th 25.8


Orford (Aubin Court) 18.7 +0.3 22.9 18th 9.8 +1.4 2.6 26th 45.4 58.0 average 78%
Scamander 19.8 +1.0 23.6 8th 10.9 +1.2 5.9 26th 20.8 66.4 low 31%
St Helens Aerodrome 19.9   24.1 8th 10.7   5.3 12th 21.8 47.2 v low 46%
Swan Island 18.9   22.3 1st 13.8   8.0 12th 53.0


Swansea Post Office 19.7 +1.1 23.2 17th 8.8 +0.6 0.2 26th 32.4 50.9 average 64%
Midlands (district 93)
Ross (The Boulevards) 18.7 +1.3 24.3 19th 6.3 +0.7 -2.1 26th 43.0 37.9 average 113%
Southeast (district 94)
Bull Bay (Lauriston) 18.2 +1.0 23.0 18th 10.9 +1.5 4.9 26th 20.0 46.3 low 43%
Campania (Kincora) 20.3 +1.6 24.6 18th 8.3 +1.2 -1.0 26th 18.2 33.6 low 54%
Cape Bruny (Cape Bruny) 17.2 +1.0 22.3 7th 11.2 +1.5 6.2 26th 38.2 51.3 low 74%
Cape Bruny Lighthouse 16.6 +1.1 22.0 7th 11.4 +1.8 6.8 26th 49.6 79.9 low 62%
Dover 17.6 +0.9 23.7 7th 8.2 +1.2 1.3 26th 41.6 66.7 low 62%
Geeveston (Cemetery Road) 17.6 +0.4 22.6 19th 8.1 +1.9 -1.0 26th 57.2 63.1 average 91%
Grove (Research Station) 18.9   23.9 18th 7.1   -2.6 26th 34.4


Hobart (Ellerslie Road) 19.3 +2.0 23.0 17th 10.7 +1.8 3.6 26th 16.4 51.0 low 32%
Hobart Airport 19.5 +1.4 24.0 20th 9.4 +0.7 2.9 26th 15.4 42.7 low 36%
Maatsuyker Island Lighthouse 15.4 +0.9 23.1 7th 10.9 +1.5 7.4 25th 85.2 108.3 average 79%
Melton Mowbray (North Stockman) 18.7 +1.6 24.9 19th 7.3 +1.7 -2.5 26th 24.0 28.4 average 85%
Mount Wellington 9.4 +1.1 16.5 19th 3.4 +1.3 -2.3 26th 41.4 83.8 low 49%
Tasman Island 15.8   20.8 18th 11.0   7.2 28th 64.8


Tunnack Fire Station 16.4 +1.3 22.6 19th 6.7 +1.7 -3.6 26th 29.6 41.7 average 71%
Derwent Valley (district 95)
Bushy Park (Bushy Park Estates) 19.7 +1.8 24.7 19th 7.2 +1.0 -2.4 26th 16.8 46.6 v low 36%
Maydena Post Office 16.7 +0.9 22.6 18th 7.5 +2.2 0.2 26th 75.0 84.5 average 89%
Ouse Fire Station 19.1 +0.9 24.6 19th 6.9 +2.4 -3.0 26th 25.0 31.0 average 81%
Tarraleah Village 15.4 +1.5 22.1 18th     -3.0 26th 87.2 95.3 average 92%
Central Plateau (district 96)
Butlers Gorge 14.1 +1.1 21.3 18th 4.8 +1.5 -2.9 26th 137.0 146.2 average 94%
Lake St Clair National Park 13.9 +1.0 21.0 18th 4.4 +1.7 -3.1 26th 167.8 136.7 high 123%
Liawenee 12.9   18.7 18th 3.1   -5.6 26th 63.2 77.7 low 81%
West Coast (district 97)
Hartz Mountain (Keoghs Pimple) 12.4 +1.6 22.8 19th 5.8 +1.6 0.4 26th 74.4 64.9 average 115%
Mount Read 9.4 +0.6 16.8 19th 4.7 +1.5 0.0 12th 488.6 280.8 high 174%
Scotts Peak Dam 15.6 +1.2 22.3 19th 8.1 +1.6 4.3 26th 159.8 126.0 high 127%
Strahan Aerodrome 17.7 +1.2 24.6 18th 10.0 +1.7 5.2 16th 164.8 109.7 high 150%
Strathgordon Village 14.7 +0.6 21.6 18th 7.4 +0.5 4.0 16th 252.3 203.5 high 124%
Warra 14.6   21.6 19th 7.1   0.7 26th 124.2


King Island (district 98)
King Island Airport 18.5 +0.9 24.1 18th 12.7 +2.5 7.0 16th 60.8 57.0 average 107%
Flinders Island (district 99)
Flinders Island Airport 19.9 +1.2 25.0 20th 12.1 +1.4 6.4 5th



Hogan Island 19.1   24.7 20th 14.2   8.7 12th 52.8


Antarctica and Macquarie Island (district 300)
Macquarie Island 6.8 -0.1 8.8 8th 3.5 -0.2 -0.7 15th 124.0 94.0 v high 132%

Details Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top

Notes

A Monthly Climate Summary is prepared to list 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.

This statement has been prepared based on information available at 9 am on Monday 3 May 2010. 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

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