Thursday, 1 December 2011 - Monthly Climate Summary for Tasmania - Product code IDCKGC17R0

Tasmania in November 2011: Wet in the north and west

November rainfall totals were above average in the north and west of the state due to west to northwest winds, and a low pressure system at the end of the month that brought local record falls. Maximum temperatures were warmer than average, by up to two degrees in the south and east. Nights were also a degree or so warmer than average.
  • A record 111 mm at Eddystone Point on the 27th
  • Wettest November on record for Launceston and Strahan
  • Hobart’s warmest November in 29 years
  • Warm days and nights
  • Above average rainfall in the north and west

A spring summary has also been prepared.

Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top

Wet in the north and west

West to northwest winds ensured that rainfall totals were close to average in the north and west of the state throughout the month. A low pressure system moving to the northeast on the 26th extended rain state wide, with heavy falls in the northeast. Eddystone Point’s 111m in the 24 hours to 9 am on the 27th was its wettest November day on record. Launceston (Ti Tree Bend) had 117 mm for the month, its wettest November on record; Strahan’s 189 mm was also its wettest November. Some sites had their highest total November rainfall for at least 20 years.
The east was relatively dry for most of the month, but the low on the 26th and a string of cold fronts in the final week brought totals close to average. Mount Read was the wettest location overall with 421 mm.

Warm days in the east

Most November days were warmer than average in eastern Tasmania, whilst the rest of the state had cool and mild days mixed throughout the month. Overall, maximum temperatures were up to one degree warmer than normal in the northwest and up to two degrees warmer than normal elsewhere. The warmest periods were around the 6th, 9th and 24th when northwesterly winds ahead of cold fronts pushed temperatures into the upper 20s at most locations, peaking at 31 °C in Swansea on the 6th. The coldest days were at the start of the month in a cool southwest flow, and around the 20th to 23rd, when daytime temperatures generally remained in the low to mid teens. Mount Read recorded the lowest maximum temperature on the 2nd with 3.4 °C.

Mild November nights

Overnight minimum temperatures were up to one degree warmer than normal in most areas for November. There were several mild nights, the warmest of which were from the 6th to the 14th, the 19th, and the 26th to the 30th. On the 19th and 30th, minimum temperatures were 5 to 8 degrees warmer than average across Tasmania due to cloudy conditions and mild northerly winds ahead of cold fronts. Flinders Island had the warmest night, the temperature not falling below 17.5 °C on the 19th.
The coldest nights were from the 2nd to the 5th and the 15th to the 17th. On the morning of the 15th, temperatures were two to five degrees below average as a result of clear overnight skies. The temperature dropped to -3.4 °C at Liawenee, the coldest morning of the month.

Hobart’s warmest November in 29 years

Day time temperatures were close to 2 °C warmer than average in Hobart, due to most days being mild; almost every day from the 4th onwards was warmer than average. This resulted in Hobart experiencing its warmest November days since 1982. The warmest day was the 6th, when the temperature reached 30.7 °C.
There were also several mild nights in Hobart, resulting in a monthly minimum temperature close to one degree warmer than normal.
November rainfall was below average for most of the month; there were several days of rain, but daily totals were usually only a few millimetres or so. A low pressure system moving to the east of Tasmania delivered 23 mm in the 48 hours to 9am on the 28th, almost half the overall monthly total of 55 mm (which is just above the long-term average of 54 mm).

Further information

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Extremes in November 2011
Hottest day 31.0 °C at Swansea (Francis Street) on the 6th
Warmest days on average 21.6 °C at Campania (Kincora)
Coolest days on average10.4 °C at Mount Read
Coldest day3.4 °C at Mount Read on the 2nd
Coldest night-3.4 °C at Liawenee on the 15th
Coolest nights on average 2.7 °C at Mount Wellington
Warmest nights on average 12.4 °C at Hogan Island
Warmest night 17.5 °C at Flinders Island Airport on the 19th
Warmest on average overall 15.9 °C at Friendly Beaches
Coolest on average overall7.0 °C at Mount Read
Wettest overall 421.0 mm at Mount Read
Driest overall 45.4 mm at Verwood (Isis River)
Wettest day 110.6 mm at Eddystone Point on the 27th
Highest wind gust 141 km/h at Mount Wellington on the 20th

Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top

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

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Record highest November daily rainfall
Highest daily rainfall
in November 2011 (mm) 		Previous wettest
for November		 Years of
record
Eddystone Point 110.6 on the 27th 100.6 on the 25th in 1972 104


Record highest total November rainfall
Total rainfall
for November 2011 (mm) 		Previous wettest
for November		 Years of
record		 Average for
November
Memana (Babel Farm) 142.6 142.0 in 2004 49 61.2
Launceston (Ti Tree Bend) 116.6 85.2 in 1993 32 51.5
Strahan Aerodrome 189.4 158.2 in 1987 25 95.9
Cape Grim BAPS (Comparison) 115.6 109.4 in 1991 24 54.1
Deviot Jetty 152.2 115.0 in 2008 24 64.8

Highest total November rainfall for at least 20 years
Total rainfall
for November 2011 (mm) 		Most recent November
at least this wet		 Years since
wetter		 Average for
November
Frankford (Rossville) 145.2 148.5 in 1968 43 67.3
Eddystone Point 148.4 148.8 in 1976 33 60.5
Irishtown 122.2 142.0 in 1977 28 82.7
Naracoopa 109.0 125.6 in 1985 26 67.1


Highest November mean daily maximum temperature for at least 20 years
Mean daily maximum
temperature
for November 2011 (°C) 		Most recent November
at least this warm		 Years since
warmer		 Average for
November
Hobart (Ellerslie Road) 20.7 21.3 in 1982 29 18.7


Record lowest November temperature
Lowest temperature
in November 2011 (°C) 		Previous coolest
for November		 Years of
record		 Average for
November
Macquarie Island -3.9 on the 4th -3.6 on the 12th in 2006 64 2.7

Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top

Summary statistics for November 2011
Maximum temperatures
for November
(°C)		 Minimum temperatures
for November
(°C)		 Rainfall
for November
(millimetres)
Mean for
November
2011		 Diff
from
average		 Highest for
November
2011		 Mean for
November
2011		 Diff
from
average		 Lowest for
November
2011		 Total for
November
2011		 Average
for
November		 Rank of
November
2011		 Fraction of
November
average
Northern (district 91)
Bridport (Sea View Villas) 18.6 +0.3 24.4 6th 10.1 +0.2 5.5 3rd 105.8 54.2 high 195%
Burnie (Round Hill) 18.6 +0.8 22.5 19th 9.1 -0.6 5.0 16th 124.2 69.2 v high 179%
Cape Grim 16.1   21.2 29th 11.4   8.8 13th 120.6
Cape Grim BAPS (Comparison) 16.8 +0.8 21.2 29th 11.2 +0.6 8.8 13th 115.6 54.1 highest 214%
Cressy Research Station 20.4 -0.1 27.5 25th 7.4 +0.2 0.6 15th 78.8 54.3 high 145%
Devonport Airport 18.5 +0.8 22.9 29th 9.9 +0.9 5.2 17th 105.2 57.8 v high 182%
Launceston (Ti Tree Bend) 20.8 +0.4 27.7 6th 9.8 +0.8 3.5 3rd 116.6 51.5 highest 226%
Launceston Airport 20.5   27.9 6th 7.6   0.1 3rd 98.4
Low Head 17.4 0.0 20.3 29th 11.8 +0.6 8.6 4th 119.6 49.6 v high 241%
Luncheon Hill (Forestry) 17.2 -0.1 24.0 25th 8.3 +0.7 5.3 3rd 141.2 95.4 high 148%
Marrawah 17.1 +0.5 22.0 29th 10.4 +1.2 7.2 13th 110.6 70.8 high 156%
Scottsdale (West Minstone Road) 19.1 +0.3 25.5 6th 8.0 +0.2 0.8 3rd 118.8 70.7 v high 168%
Sheffield School Farm 17.6 -0.4 23.3 6th 7.5 -0.1 2.0 16th 148.6 93.5 high 159%
Smithton Aerodrome 18.1 -0.3 22.6 29th 9.3 +0.6 3.0 17th 101.2 57.9 v high 175%
Wynyard Airport 19.1 +1.2 23.7 4th 8.8 +0.8 3.2 16th 131.6 76.4 v high 172%
East Coast (district 92)
Bicheno (Council Depot) 19.6 +1.2 26.3 6th 11.2 +1.1 6.0 15th 70.2 58.6 average 120%
Eddystone Point 20.1 +2.3 23.8 6th 11.3 +0.5 6.1 3rd 148.4 60.5 v high 245%
Fingal (Legge Street) 21.1 +1.6 28.6 6th 7.1 0.0 -0.2 3rd 53.4 44.8 average 119%
Friendly Beaches 21.0 +1.4 30.2 6th 10.8 +0.6 6.6 3rd 49.2 60.0 average 82%
Lake Leake (Elizabeth River) 17.1 +1.5 25.4 6th 6.0 +0.7 0.2 15th 78.6 64.0 high 123%
Maria Island (Point Lesueur) 18.9   26.6 6th 11.2   8.3 3rd 62.8
Orford (Aubin Court) 19.9 +1.3 29.4 6th 9.9 +0.8 5.0 15th 64.0 65.3 average 98%
Scamander 20.4 +1.4 29.2 6th 10.5 +0.2 4.6 3rd 94.6 65.0 high 146%
St Helens Aerodrome 20.5 +1.3 29.4 6th 10.4 +0.2 4.2 3rd 92.2 72.8 average 127%
Swan Island 18.2 +0.7 24.2 6th 12.1 +0.2 8.0 3rd 145.2 69.2 v high 210%
Swansea (Francis Street) 21.0   31.0 6th 9.7   3.9 15th 70.4
Midlands (district 93)
Ross (The Boulevards) 20.7 +0.8 28.1 25th 6.8 0.0 0.0 3rd 64.0 49.4 high 130%
Southeast (district 94)
Bull Bay (Lauriston) 18.7 +0.9 29.0 6th 9.7 +0.5 6.4 3rd 51.0 52.4 average 97%
Campania (Kincora) 21.6 +0.9 29.7 6th 8.8 +0.2 2.6 15th 52.2 42.7 average 122%
Cape Bruny (Cape Bruny) 18.0 +1.3 27.8 6th 10.0 +0.4 6.9 16th 59.4 54.1 average 110%
Cape Bruny Lighthouse 17.3 +1.7 27.4 6th 9.8 +0.8 3.9 21st 59.6 75.4 average 79%
Dover 18.7 +1.2 30.2 6th 8.4 +0.6 3.5 13th 61.6 71.8 average 86%
Geeveston (Cemetery Road) 19.3 +1.1 30.5 6th 8.9 +1.3 3.3 15th 85.2 70.5 average 121%
Grove (Research Station) 20.2   29.8 6th 7.1   0.6 15th 77.0
Hobart (Ellerslie Road) 20.7 +2.0 30.7 6th 10.9 +1.6 5.8 15th 55.2 54.3 average 102%
Hobart Airport 20.5 +1.5 29.5 6th 10.3 +1.1 6.4 3rd 54.0 44.5 average 121%
Maatsuyker Island Lighthouse 15.1 +0.7 26.5 6th 9.2 +0.8 6.9 16th 100.2 92.1 average 109%
Melton Mowbray (North Stockman) 20.4 +0.7 29.0 6th 7.9 +0.5 2.6 15th 50.4 42.2 average 119%
Mount Wellington 11.3 +2.1 20.9 6th 2.7 +1.2 -1.6 2nd 80.8 88.6 average 91%
Tasman Island 16.4   27.1 6th 9.4   6.2 2nd 90.0 53.5 high 168%
Tunnack Fire Station 17.4 +0.1 24.2 25th 6.8 +0.8 1.2 5th 90.4 62.2 high 145%
Derwent Valley (district 95)
Bushy Park (Bushy Park Estates) 21.1 +1.3 30.4 6th 8.2 +0.7 1.2 15th 68.6 53.0 high 129%
Maydena Post Office 18.1 +0.1 29.0 6th 7.1 +0.7 1.5 15th 119.6 92.6 high 129%
Ouse Fire Station 20.8 -0.2 29.3 25th 7.9 +0.9 1.6 13th 56.0 41.9 high 134%
Tarraleah Village 17.6 +1.3 25.0 25th 6.1 +1.3 0.8 14th 111.1 97.4 high 114%
Central Plateau (district 96)
Butlers Gorge 15.6 +1.0 25.0 25th 5.1 +1.2 -2.4 13th 155.0 139.8 average 111%
Lake St Clair National Park 15.8 +0.3 25.6 25th 4.7 +1.2 -0.9 13th 185.0 136.2 high 136%
Liawenee 15.2 -0.1 24.4 5th 3.2 +0.4 -3.4 15th 77.8 69.1 average 113%
West Coast (district 97)
Cape Sorell 17.2 +1.8 22.9 6th 10.8 +1.2 8.0 24th 103.8 88.7 average 117%
Hartz Mountain (Keoghs Pimple) 14.1 +0.3 25.5 6th 4.7 +0.5 0.2 16th 101.4 75.3 high 135%
Mount Read 10.4 -0.5 20.2 25th 3.6 +0.4 -0.2 3rd 421.0 221.4 v high 190%
Scotts Peak Dam 17.5 -0.1 30.0 6th 7.2 +0.4 3.5 16th 180.8 99.3 v high 182%
Strahan Aerodrome 18.6 +0.9 30.6 6th 9.3 +1.1 4.2 24th 189.4 95.9 highest 197%
Warra 16.4   28.4 6th 6.2   2.0 13th 171.4
King Island (district 98)
King Island Airport 18.8 +1.5 25.0 5th 11.2 +1.2 4.8 17th 80.2 56.8 high 141%
Flinders Island (district 99)
Flinders Island Airport 19.6 +1.1 30.3 6th 11.6 +1.4 5.0 13th 106.2 55.8 v high 190%
Hogan Island 18.3   27.0 29th 12.4   9.5 17th 105.4
Antarctica and Macquarie Island (district 300)
Macquarie Island 6.7 +0.2 8.7 19th 2.8 +0.1 -3.9 4th 99.8 72.1 v high 138%

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 Thursday 1 December 2011. 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

Media
(03) 9669 4057
Enquiries

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