Monday, 3 June 2013 - Monthly Climate Summary for Tasmania - Product code IDCKGC27R0
Tasmania in May 2013: A mixed bag
A warm spell from the 7th to the 14th saw above average temperatures across Tasmania, but temperatures were generally cooler than normal for the rest of the month. Overall, May days were above average but nights were below average. Launceston and Devonport reported their coldest May day on record on the 20th. A low pressure system passing over Bass Strait brought some rain to the north on the 15th and 16th, but rainfall was generally average to below average for the month elsewhere.
- Launceston and Devonport's coldest May day on record on the 20th
- Above average rainfall in the north, below average in the west and southeast
- A warm spell during the middle of the month
- Generally cool nights
A summary covering all of autumn 2013 has also been prepared.
Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top
Some rain in the north, but relatively dry elsewhere
A low pressure system passed over Bass Strait on the 15th and 16th, bringing significant rain to the north of the state. Frankford, Low Head and Sheffield all reported falls over 60 mm in the 24 hours to 9 am on the 16th. This was enough for the north to see above average monthly rainfall totals.
Earlier in the month, thunderstorms blanketed the Launceston area with small hail on the 1st, contributing to a number of car crashes. However, daily rainfall totals were only of the order of a few millimetres.
The remainder of the state remained relatively dry with below average falls over the course of the month. Although the highest rainfall total was reported at Mount Read with 279 mm, this was still well below the site's May average of 403 mm. Campania reported the lowest rainfall total of the month with only 10 mm, very much below its May average of 32 mm.
A mid-month warm spell with a hint of winter
Tasmania experienced a warm spell between the 7th and 12th as a high pressure system over the Tasman Sea directed a northerly flow across the state. Records were broken for both maximum and minimum temperatures during this time. Mount Wellington reported its highest May temperature on record with 17.3 °C on the 10th (2.6 °C above the previous record set in 2007) while Campania recorded the hottest day of the month with a maximum of 23.8 °C on the 10th. Both Maatsuyker Island (17.0 °C on the 11th) and Strahan (16.4 °C on the 12th) had their warmest May night on record with Maatsuyker Island also the warmest overnight minimum in the state this month.
Much of the remainder of the month saw below average temperatures. Both Launceston and Devonport reported their coldest May day on record in cloudy and wet conditions on the 20th with maximum temperatures of only 9.0 °C and 8.8 °C respectively. The coldest day of the month was reported at Mount Wellington on the 4th with a maximum of only -0.6 °C while Liawenee experienced the coldest night of the month on the 20th with an overnight minimum of -7.0 °C.
Another month of warm days overall
Despite the hint of the winter to come, the warm spell during the middle of the month was enough to lift overall mean daily maximum temperatures for the month, which were above the long-term May average across the state, by about half a degree in the north and about a degree in the south.
With several runs of cold nights mean daily minimum temperatures were mostly below normal, typically by about half to one degree, although at a few sites in the northwest nights were slightly warmer than usual.
Hobart continues mild and dry
Despite several cold days, the warm spell during the middle of the month led to Hobart reporting another warmer than usual month during May with an average maximum temperature 1.6 °C above the long term mean. The warmest day of the month was the 11th with a maximum in Hobart of 22.4 °C; Mount Wellington had experienced a record breaking 17.3 °C the previous day (its warmest May day on record). The month ended with a warm spell: Hobart reached 19.7 °C on the 30th and 18.4 °C on the 31st.. Hobart's coldest day of the month was the 4th with a maximum of only 11.8 °C.
Although there were a few chilly mornings, Hobart's mean minimum temperature was just above average by 0.1 °C. The coldest night was the 20th when the temperature dropped to 1.6 °C.
Over the month, only 23 mm of rainfall was reported, which is half the long-term average. Hobart's heaviest fall was 6.2 mm on the 4th and resulted from the passage of a cold front. This same cold front was associated with strong and gusty winds across the state on the 3rd as the northwesterly flow strengthened ahead of the change.
Further information
- Media
- media@bom.gov.au (03) 9669 4057
- Enquiries
- helpdesk.climate@bom.gov.au
| Extremes in May 2013 | |
|---|---|
| Hottest day | 23.8 °C at Campania (Kincora) on the 10th |
| Warmest days on average | 17.0 °C at Larapuna (Eddystone Point) |
| Coolest days on average | 6.6 °C at Mount Read |
| Coldest day | -0.6 °C at Mount Wellington on the 4th |
| Coldest night | -7.0 °C at Liawenee on the 20th |
| Coolest nights on average | 0.5 °C at Liawenee |
| Warmest nights on average | 10.4 °C at Swan Island |
| Warmest night | 17.0 °C at Maatsuyker Island Lighthouse on the 11th |
| Warmest on average overall | 13.3 °C at Swan Island and Larapuna (Eddystone Point) |
| Coolest on average overall | 4.1 °C at Mount Wellington |
| Wettest overall | 279.4 mm at Mount Read |
| Driest overall | 9.6 mm at Campania (Kincora) |
| Wettest day | 65.0 mm at Frankford (Rossville) on the 16th |
| Highest wind gust | 135 km/h at Mount Wellington on the 25th |
Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top
| Maps | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Observed | Anomaly | Decile rank | |
| Total rainfall |
|
|
|
| Mean daily maximum temperatures |
|
|
|
| Mean daily minimum temperatures |
|
|
|
Click on a map to show it full size in a pop-up window
| Highest total May rainfall for at least 20 years | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Total rainfall for May 2013 (mm) |
Most recent May at least this wet |
Years since wetter |
Average for May |
||
| King Island Airport | 146.4 | 160.6 | in 1992* | 20 | 87.5 |
* note: there are gaps in the historical record at this site, so it is possible a higher value has gone unreported.
| Record highest May temperature | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Highest temperature in May 2013 (°C) |
Previous warmest for May |
Years of record |
Average for May |
|||
| Mount Wellington | 17.3 | on the 10th | 14.9 | on the 11th in 2007 | 34 | 5.6 |
| Record lowest May daily maximum temperature | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Lowest daily maximum temperature in May 2013 (°C) |
Previous coolest for May |
Years of record |
Average for May |
|||
| Launceston (Ti Tree Bend) | 9.0 | on the 20th | 9.6 | on the 12th in 2011 | 32 | 15.8 |
| Devonport Airport | 8.8 | on the 20th | 9.4 | on the 29th in 1997 | 22 | 15.3 |
| Highest May mean daily maximum temperature for at least 20 years | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Mean daily maximum temperature for May 2013 (°C) |
Most recent May at least this warm |
Years since warmer |
Average for May |
||
| Cape Sorell | 14.9 | 15.4 | in 1947* | 25 | 13.7 |
* note: there are gaps in the historical record at this site, so it is possible a higher value has gone unreported.
| Record highest May daily minimum temperature | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Highest daily minimum temperature in May 2013 (°C) |
Previous warmest for May |
Years of record |
Average for May |
|||
| Maatsuyker Island Lighthouse | 17.0 | on the 11th | 16.2 | on the 8th in 1992 | 57 | 8.4 |
| Strahan Aerodrome | 16.4 | on the 12th | 15.0 | on the 1st in 1997 | 22 | 7.4 |
| Lowest May mean daily minimum temperature for at least 20 years | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Mean daily minimum temperature for May 2013 (°C) |
Most recent May at least this cool |
Years since cooler |
Average for May |
||
| Bushy Park (Bushy Park Estates) | 1.9 | 1.6 | in 1979 | 34 | 4.1 |
Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top
| Summary statistics for May 2013 | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maximum temperatures for May (°C) |
Minimum temperatures for May (°C) |
Rainfall for May (millimetres) |
||||||||||
| Mean for May 2013 |
Diff from average |
Highest for May 2013 |
Mean for May 2013 |
Diff from average |
Lowest for May 2013 |
Total for May 2013 |
Average for May |
Rank of May 2013 |
Fraction of May average |
|||
| Northern (district 91) | ||||||||||||
| Bridport (Sea View Villas) | 15.9 | 0.0 | 19.5 | 9th | 7.3 | -0.5 | 2.7 | 2nd | 84.8 | 63.2 | average | 134% |
| Burnie (Round Hill) | 15.8 | +0.5 | 19.7 | 12th | 8.9 | +0.6 | 4.2 | 19th | 107.4 | 92.8 | average | 116% |
| Cape Grim | 14.8 | 19.1 | 9th | 9.9 | 5.6 | 6th | 88.0 | |||||
| Cape Grim BAPS (Comparison) | 15.2 | +0.6 | 20.4 | 9th | 9.9 | -0.2 | 6.4 | 20th | 70.2 | 76.5 | average | 92% |
| Cressy Research Station | 15.1 | +0.3 | 19.5 | 12th | 3.0 | -0.4 | -4.0 | 20th | 60.6 | 45.1 | high | 134% |
| Devonport Airport | 15.4 | +0.1 | 19.6 | 12th | 6.4 | -0.3 | 0.8 | 19th | 94.2 | 73.5 | average | 128% |
| Launceston (Ti Tree Bend) | 16.3 | +0.5 | 21.5 | 9th | 4.1 | -1.0 | -1.5 | 19th | 59.0 | 62.1 | average | 95% |
| Launceston Airport | 15.1 | 20.2 | 12th | 4.0 | -1.7 | 6th | 56.2 | |||||
| Low Head | 15.2 | -0.2 | 17.7 | 12th | 8.3 | -1.1 | 4.4 | 2nd | 133.4 | 62.9 | v high | 212% |
| Luncheon Hill (Forestry) | 13.4 | +0.4 | 20.7 | 9th | 7.0 | +0.1 | 2.5 | 27th | 117.0 | 152.6 | average | 77% |
| Marrawah | 15.1 | +0.4 | 20.2 | 9th | 8.8 | -0.3 | 4.5 | 2nd | 138.2 | 104.8 | high | 132% |
| Scottsdale (West Minstone Road) | 14.6 | -0.3 | 20.1 | 9th | 5.9 | +0.1 | 0.4 | 2nd | 101.4 | 97.1 | average | 104% |
| Sheffield School Farm | 13.6 | 0.0 | 17.9 | 12th | 4.9 | -0.5 | -0.3 | 5th | 171.0 | 87.1 | high | 196% |
| Smithton Aerodrome | 15.9 | +0.5 | 19.0 | 12th | 5.5 | -0.7 | -0.9 | 2nd | 68.8 | 79.5 | average | 87% |
| Wynyard Airport | 15.3 | +0.2 | 19.3 | 12th | 5.7 | +0.4 | -0.1 | 20th | 105.0 | 97.0 | average | 108% |
| East Coast (district 92) | ||||||||||||
| Bicheno (Council Depot) | 16.7 | +0.2 | 19.5 | 25th | 8.4 | -0.1 | 3.5 | 2nd | 46.6 | 56.7 | average | 82% |
| Fingal (Legge Street) | 15.5 | +0.3 | 22.0 | 12th | 1.9 | -0.9 | -4.5 | 20th | 29.8 | 50.0 | average | 60% |
| Friendly Beaches | 16.6 | +0.5 | 22.0 | 12th | 7.9 | -0.3 | 2.5 | 7th | 47.4 | 56.1 | average | 84% |
| Lake Leake (Elizabeth River) | 11.8 | +0.4 | 18.3 | 12th | 1.3 | -0.8 | -4.3 | 20th | 49.4 | 72.9 | average | 68% |
| Larapuna (Eddystone Point) | 17.0 | +1.2 | 21.6 | 9th | 9.5 | -0.2 | 4.4 | 19th | 63.2 | 65.5 | average | 96% |
| Maria Island (Point Lesueur) | 15.4 | 18.9 | 11th | 9.6 | 5.9 | 20th | 21.0 | |||||
| Orford (Aubin Court) | 16.2 | +0.5 | 21.8 | 12th | 0.7 | 7th | 22.8 | 58.0 | low | 39% | ||
| St Helens Aerodrome | 16.3 | +0.3 | 20.1 | 9th | 6.8 | -0.3 | 1.8 | 5th | 36.8 | 45.9 | average | 80% |
| Swan Island | 16.2 | +0.4 | 20.3 | 8th | 10.4 | -0.3 | 5.5 | 5th | 72.0 | 48.7 | high | 148% |
| Swansea (Francis Street) | 16.5 | 22.3 | 12th | 5.6 | -0.1 | 20th | 27.8 | |||||
| Midlands (district 93) | ||||||||||||
| Ross (The Boulevards) | 14.9 | +0.6 | 20.1 | 12th | 1.7 | -1.6 | -5.3 | 20th | 18.4 | 29.1 | average | 63% |
| Southeast (district 94) | ||||||||||||
| Bull Bay (Lauriston) | 15.5 | +0.5 | 22.0 | 3rd | 7.8 | -0.3 | 3.5 | 20th | 41.2 | 40.8 | average | 101% |
| Campania (Kincora) | 16.9 | +1.0 | 23.8 | 10th | 4.8 | -0.9 | -1.4 | 28th | 9.6 | 30.5 | v low | 31% |
| Cape Bruny (Cape Bruny) | 14.9 | +0.6 | 20.2 | 3rd | 8.5 | -0.2 | 4.3 | 20th | 77.0 | 62.2 | high | 124% |
| Cape Bruny Lighthouse | 14.6 | +1.1 | 20.2 | 3rd | 8.5 | +0.2 | 4.4 | 20th | 84.4 | 84.4 | average | 100% |
| Dennes Point | 15.2 | 22.0 | 3rd | 8.0 | 3.9 | 28th | 32.8 | |||||
| Dover | 15.0 | +0.3 | 21.3 | 3rd | 5.1 | -0.7 | -0.5 | 20th | 56.6 | 70.8 | average | 80% |
| Dunalley (Stroud Point) | 15.2 | 22.8 | 3rd | 8.7 | 4.8 | 20th | 28.2 | |||||
| Geeveston (Cemetery Road) | 15.7 | +1.2 | 21.8 | 11th | 3.3 | -1.4 | -2.9 | 20th | 34.0 | 69.8 | low | 49% |
| Grove (Research Station) | 15.7 | 22.5 | 12th | 3.3 | -3.5 | 28th | 36.2 | |||||
| Hobart (Ellerslie Road) | 16.0 | +1.6 | 22.4 | 11th | 7.1 | +0.1 | 1.6 | 20th | 23.0 | 46.3 | low | 50% |
| Hobart Airport | 16.2 | +1.0 | 22.8 | 11th | 6.1 | -0.5 | 2.0 | 20th | 21.0 | 35.4 | low | 59% |
| Maatsuyker Island Lighthouse | 14.0 | +1.3 | 21.0 | 10th | 9.7 | +1.3 | 5.7 | 4th | 110.8 | 114.9 | average | 96% |
| Melton Mowbray (North Stockman) | 14.9 | +0.7 | 21.9 | 10th | 2.6 | -1.8 | -5.4 | 20th | 12.4 | 28.2 | v low | 44% |
| Mount Wellington | 6.8 | +1.2 | 17.3 | 10th | 1.3 | +0.7 | -3.9 | 4th | 44.8 | 64.7 | average | 69% |
| Tasman Island | 13.6 | +0.4 | 19.1 | 3rd | 8.9 | +0.3 | 4.5 | 4th | 99.6 | 73.4 | high | 136% |
| Tunnack Fire Station | 12.9 | +0.6 | 18.1 | 10th | 2.5 | -1.1 | -6.0 | 20th | 29.0 | 45.2 | low | 64% |
| Derwent Valley (district 95) | ||||||||||||
| Bushy Park (Bushy Park Estates) | 15.1 | +0.8 | 21.1 | 3rd | 1.9 | -2.2 | -4.7 | 28th | 16.4 | 45.2 | low | 36% |
| Maydena Post Office | 13.4 | +0.4 | 20.0 | 12th | 3.0 | -1.4 | -0.5 | 24th | 59.5 | 91.9 | low | 65% |
| Ouse Fire Station | 14.8 | -0.1 | 21.4 | 12th | 1.9 | -1.9 | -4.6 | 28th | 19.2 | 28.4 | average | 68% |
| Central Plateau (district 96) | ||||||||||||
| Butlers Gorge | 11.5 | +1.6 | 19.8 | 10th | 0.9 | -0.9 | -4.5 | 28th | 92.8 | 157.5 | low | 59% |
| Lake St Clair National Park | 10.7 | +0.5 | 19.0 | 10th | 1.1 | -0.6 | -3.8 | 28th | 106.6 | 156.8 | average | 68% |
| Liawenee | 9.5 | +0.5 | 19.9 | 10th | 0.5 | +0.4 | -7.0 | 20th | 80.6 | 79.3 | average | 102% |
| West Coast (district 97) | ||||||||||||
| Cape Sorell | 14.9 | +1.2 | 20.4 | 9th | 9.3 | +0.3 | 5.4 | 20th | 86.2 | 128.2 | low | 67% |
| Hartz Mountain (Keoghs Pimple) | 9.6 | +1.1 | 18.3 | 10th | 3.9 | +0.5 | -0.7 | 4th | 64.0 | 72.7 | average | 88% |
| Low Rocky Point | 15.2 | 22.1 | 10th | 8.6 | 3.8 | 20th | 143.2 | 131.6 | average | 109% | ||
| Mount Read | 6.6 | +0.3 | 15.3 | 9th | 2.4 | +0.3 | -1.9 | 4th | 279.4 | 395.7 | low | 71% |
| Scotts Peak Dam | 12.7 | +1.2 | 19.8 | 11th | 5.0 | -0.6 | -0.7 | 20th | 136.2 | 167.7 | average | 81% |
| Strahan Aerodrome | 15.3 | +1.1 | 21.6 | 10th | 6.8 | -0.6 | 1.1 | 23rd | 128.0 | 144.3 | average | 89% |
| Warra | 12.1 | 20.8 | 10th | 3.9 | -3.3 | 20th | 93.8 | |||||
| King Island (district 98) | ||||||||||||
| King Island Airport | 16.2 | +0.7 | 22.3 | 11th | 9.4 | +0.1 | 3.8 | 22nd | 146.4 | 87.5 | v high | 167% |
| Flinders Island (district 99) | ||||||||||||
| Flinders Island Airport | 16.9 | +0.7 | 22.8 | 12th | 7.1 | -1.9 | -0.4 | 5th | ||||
| Antarctica and Macquarie Island (district 300) | ||||||||||||
| Macquarie Island | 5.7 | -0.2 | 8.2 | 11th | 2.5 | 0.0 | -4.2 | 28th | 106.8 | 83.3 | high | 128% |
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 June 2013. 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
- media@bom.gov.au (03) 9669 4057
- Enquiries
- helpdesk.climate@bom.gov.au
Unless otherwise noted, all maps, graphs and diagrams in this page are licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International Licence
