Tasmania in October 2015: a very dry, very warm month

Low rainfall and warm temperatures were the defining features of October 2015 in Tasmania. Numerous sites had their driest October on record, resulting in the State-average rain coming in as the driest October on record. Very warm days, especially in the first half of the month, gave many sites their warmest October mean maximum temperature on record.

  • Very low rainfall, especially in the north and inland
  • Tasmania's driest October on record
  • Very warm days, especially in the first half of the month
  • Warmest October on record for many sites
  • Overnight temperatures also above average

Rainfall was very much below average across Tasmania, with numerous sites having their driest October on record, and large areas of the north and the inland having less than one-tenth of their October average. The State-averaged rainfall was an October record low of 20.6 mm, just one-sixth of the long-term average. Large parts of the State had less than 10 mm of rain for the entire month and several sites around Launceston reported less than 1 mm. While there was some moderate rainfall around the 21st and 26th in the southwest and the southeast, this was not sufficient to raise totals to the October average. The dry October follows below-average rain in September and a winter that was relatively dry in most areas.

The first week of the month brought a string of unseasonably warm days. Friendly Beaches, on the East Coast, reached 33.6 °C on the 6th, the earliest in spring that a Tasmanian site has ever reported such a warm day. The high temperatures were accompanied by strong winds, leading to an early start to the bushfire season. This early-season warmth was followed by another run of warm weather from the 15th to the 20th, with temperatures at some sites again reaching over 30 °C. There were a few cool days, but the mean maximum temperature was at or close to the October record at many sites, including Hobart, Launceston and Burnie. Averaged over the whole State, maximum temperatures were 2.16 °C above normal, the third-highest on record for October. Overnight temperatures were also above average, although typically by less than a degree. Early-season warm to hot weather was experienced across southern Australia, as detailed in a Special Climate Statement.

Hobart reported 4 days of 29 °C (29.1 °C on the 3rd, 29.0 °C on the 5th, 31.7 °C on the 6th and 31.2 °C on the 15th), the most October days so warm since records began in 1882. Despite some cooler weather in the second half of the month, Hobart's mean maximum temperature for October was 19.7 °C, equalling the record set in 1963. This is 2.7 °C above the long-term average. Overnight temperatures were also above average in Hobart, despite a chilly 4 °C on the 13th. Only 14 mm of rain was recorded in the city, well down on the 62 mm average for October.

 

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Extremes in October 2015
Hottest day 33.6 °C at Friendly Beaches on the 6th
Warmest days on average 21.7 °C at Bushy Park (Bushy Park Estates)
Coolest days on average 10.9 °C at Mount Read
Coldest day 3.0 °C at Kunanyi (Mount Wellington Pinnacle) on the 12th
Coldest night -6.4 °C at Liawenee on the 17th
Coolest nights on average 1.3 °C at Liawenee
Warmest nights on average 11.4 °C at Hogan Island
Warmest night 17.9 °C at Friendly Beaches on the 6th
Warmest on average overall 15.3 °C at Hogan Island
Coolest on average overall 6.6 °C at Mount Read
Wettest overall 65.6 mm at Tim Shea (Summit)
Driest overall 0.4 mm at Corra Linn (North Esk River)
Wettest day 26.2 mm at Tim Shea (Summit) on the 21st
Strongest wind gust 143 km/h at Maatsuyker Island Lighthouse on the 6th

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 lowest October total rainfall
New record
(mm)
Old
record
Years of
record
Average for
October
Bushy Park (Bushy Park Estates) 10.6 11.6 in 2008 142 57.0
Fingal (Legge Street) 2.8 3.8 in 1913 133 53.8
Maatsuyker Island Lighthouse 35.4 39.6 in 1929 125 105.1
Lake Leake (Elizabeth River) 8.0 11.3 in 1940 124 74.5
Ulverstone (Knights Road) 4.4 6.6 in 1914 115 86.6
Waratah (Mount Road) 6.2 36.7 in 1914 114 196.7
Lilydale Post Office 2.8 6.9 in 1914 111 79.1
Ringarooma (Main Street) 4.6 18.1 in 1914 111 107.7
Premaydena Hatchery 13.2 14.8 in 1914 110 67.2
Yolla (Sea View) 7.8 19.2 in 2008 109 125.5
Larapuna (Eddystone Point) 4.6 5.0 in 1982 107 68.1
Naracoopa 4.6 30.6 in 2008 103 83.8
Colebrook (The Meadows) 4.2 14.2 in 1982 100 60.5
York Plains (Handroyd) 5.6 14.7 in 1967 100 53.3
Eaglehawk Neck (Jetty Road) 13.4 23.5 in 1963 96 77.3
Cape Sorell 15.4 40.1 in 1914 91 106.3
Bronte Heights 14.2 25.4 in 1965 88 89.1
Launceston (Kings Meadows) 0.8 9.6 in 1982 84 58.9
City of Melbourne Bay 4.6 30.2 in 1991 83 87.5
Wattle Hill 8.6 13.0 in 1954 83 58.4
Lady Barron (Franklin Parade) 1.0 2.5 in 1914 81 60.6
Flinders Island Airport 1.8 4.1 in 2008 72 58.5
Burnie (Round Hill) 7.5 9.8 in 2008 71 83.6
Lake Margaret Power Station 47.2 121.9 in 1969 71 272.5
Levendale 11.8 13.8 in 1940 71 70.2
Butlers Gorge 38.8 42.2 in 1963 65 159.8
Woodbridge 27.0 32.2 in 2003 64 84.2
Redpa (Greenes Road) 9.8 29.6 in 2008 61 95.2
Lorinna 4.4 16.8 in 2008 60 115.9
Hobart Airport 6.8 14.2 in 2008 58 45.6
Waterhouse(Barooga) 4.8 9.2 in 2008 55 52.3
Memana (Babel Farm) 3.4 7.8 in 2008 54 53.4
Pyengana (Forest Lodge Road) 12.4 18.2 in 1972 54 98.7
Devonport Airport 3.6 5.8 in 2006 53 62.5
Tomahawk (Carisbrooke) 4.4 10.6 in 2006 50 57.0
Weetah (Weetah Road) 1.4 9.6 in 2006 50 77.6
Barrington Post Office 8.4 13.7 in 2008 49 86.2
Fern Tree (Grays Road) 44.8 46.4 in 1972 49 110.3
Kimberley (Siding) 7.4 9.4 in 2006 49 69.1
Margate (Sunnyside) 20.2 24.8 in 2008 48 69.7
Savage River Mine 13.0 65.8 in 2009 48 166.4
Zeehan (West Coast Pioneers Museum) 32.6 72.4 in 2009 47 207.8
Marrawah 5.2 29.2 in 2008 45 86.2
Scottsdale (West Minstone Road) 14.2 19.4 in 2008 45 80.9
Rotherwood 7.2 14.0 in 2008 44 55.3
Huonville (Tutton Avenue) 9.0 27.3 in 1969 42 68.5
King Island Airport 3.6 25.0 in 2008 41 71.7
Lucaston (Bakers Creek Road) 23.8 31.8 in 2008 36 83.3
Launceston (Ti Tree Bend) 0.6 9.9 in 2008 35 49.3
Nugent (Twilight Valley) 13.2 14.7 in 1982 33 63.3
Loongana (Serendipity) 6.2 31.2 in 2008 30 143.2
Tea Tree (The Point) 5.4 14.8 in 2008 30 50.7
Cape Grim BAPS (Comparison) 2.4 17.6 in 2008 29 59.8
Richmond (Strathayr) 8.0 14.0 in 2008 28 48.5
Lake St Clair National Park 54.4 73.6 in 2009 27 179.0
Maydena Post Office 39.6 49.0 in 2012 24 117.5
Three Hummock Island 3.4 13.5 in 2006 24 59.9
Nierinna (Cuthberts Road) 27.8 38.0 in 2008 23 85.5
Ross (The Boulevards) 3.2 9.4 in 2008 23 40.7
Low Rocky Point 38.6 43.8 in 2009 22 108.0
Mount Victoria (Una Plain) 12.4 28.7 in 1965 22 136.5
Llewellyn (South Esk River) 10.0 10.2 in 2008 21 42.6
Meander (Meander River) 2.4 8.4 in 2008 21 61.5
Yarlington (Blacks Pinnacle) 9.0 26.8 in 2003 21 58.4
Derwent Bridge 36.6 61.6 in 2008 20 136.8
Luncheon Hill (Forestry) 5.8 49.6 in 2008 20 126.5
Quamby Bluff 2.4 15.8 in 2008 20 93.2
Strathbridge (Meander River) 2.2 5.8 in 2006 20 44.1

Lowest October total rainfall for at least 20 years
Observed
(mm)
Most recent
lower
Average for
October
Avoca (Railway House) 7.4 4.3 in 1902* 52.5
Deal Island 4.2 2.5 in 1914* 60.3
Latrobe (Coal Hill Road) 8.0 7.4 in 1914* 83.1
Pioneer (Main Road) 6.4 4.4 in 1914* 88.4
Lunawanna 14.4 12.7 in 1914* 71.8
Gladstone (Old Post Office) 7.0 4.3 in 1914* 74.6
Orford (Aubin Court) 14.0 13.4 in 1954* 58.5
Cape Bruny Lighthouse 23.0 22.3 in 1963 83.0
Dover 21.0 15.3 in 1963 85.4
Lymington (Fattys Lane) 23.8 16.0 in 1963* 76.3
Hobart (Ellerslie Road) 14.4 8.6 in 1982 61.3
Opossum Bay 15.6 13.2 in 1982 52.0
Lewis Hill (St Pauls River) 5.6 1.8 in 1982* 51.9
Seven Mile Beach (Royal Hobart Golf Club 12.2 11.8 in 1982* 48.9
Strahan Aerodrome 25.2 3.6 in 1981* 116.7

* note: there are gaps in the historical record at this site, so it is possible a lower value has gone unreported.




Record highest October temperature
New record
(°C)
Old
record
Years of
record
Average for
October
Larapuna (Eddystone Point) 28.8 on the 6th 27.7 on the 12th in 2006 58 16.5
Flinders Island Airport 32.7 on the 6th = 32.7 on the 12th in 2006 53 16.7
Cape Grim BAPS (Comparison) 21.9 on the 15th 21.8 on the 12th in 2006 23 14.4
King Island Airport 28.0 on the 5th 27.9 on the 26th in 2008 21 15.8



Record highest October mean daily maximum temperature
New record
(°C)
Old
record
Years of
record
Average for
October
Hobart (Ellerslie Road) 19.7 = 19.7 in 1963 133 17.0
Bushy Park (Bushy Park Estates) 21.7 20.0 in 1963 79 17.7
Burnie (Round Hill) 17.8 = 17.8 in 1977 66 16.0
Hobart Airport 20.4 19.9 in 1963 57 17.3
Larapuna (Eddystone Point) 19.0 18.2 in 2012 57 16.5
Butlers Gorge 16.9 16.2 in 1963 54 12.5
Flinders Island Airport 20.2 18.3 in 2008 52 16.7
Scottsdale (West Minstone Road) 18.3 17.7 in 1999 43 16.4
Bicheno (Council Depot) 19.3 19.0 in 1988 40 17.4
Kunanyi (Mount Wellington Pinnacle) 11.6 10.8 in 1963 33 7.1
Launceston (Ti Tree Bend) 20.5 19.1 in 2008 32 18.0
Fingal (Legge Street) 21.0 19.5 in 2008 29 17.4
Wynyard Airport 17.8 17.3 in 2008 28 16.1
Dover 18.8 17.5 in 1999 25 16.2
Lake Leake (Elizabeth River) 16.9 15.3 in 1991 25 13.7
Strahan Aerodrome 18.1 18.0 in 1981 25 16.0
Devonport Airport 17.0 16.7 in 2008 23 15.8
Maydena Post Office 19.1 16.8 in 2005 23 15.6
Cape Grim BAPS (Comparison) 16.0 15.4 in 2005 22 14.4
Ross (The Boulevards) 20.3 18.3 in 2008 22 17.0
King Island Airport 18.2 16.9 in 2008 20 15.8

Highest October mean daily maximum temperature for at least 20 years
Observed
(°C)
Most recent
higher
Average for
October
Orford (Aubin Court) 19.4 20.1 in 1977 17.3
Cape Bruny Lighthouse 16.2 16.5 in 1981 14.4
Bridport (Sea View Villas) 17.8 18.1 in 1994* 16.4

* note: there are gaps in the historical record at this site, so it is possible a higher value has gone unreported.




Record highest October daily minimum temperature
New record
(°C)
Old
record
Years of
record
Average for
October
Larapuna (Eddystone Point) 14.9 on the 16th 14.5 on the 27th in 2014 58 9.1
Butlers Gorge 13.7 on the 6th 12.8 on the 11th in 1963 42 2.4
Ross (The Boulevards) 15.1 on the 16th 14.0 on the 31st in 2009 23 4.9



Record highest October mean daily minimum temperature
New record
(°C)
Old
record
Years of
record
Average for
October
Bicheno (Council Depot) 10.0 9.8 in 1973 40 8.5

Highest October mean daily minimum temperature for at least 20 years
Observed
(°C)
Most recent
higher
Average for
October
Kunanyi (Mount Wellington Pinnacle) 2.0 3.7 in 1963* 0.0

* note: there are gaps in the historical record at this site, so it is possible a higher value has gone unreported.




Record highest October mean temperature
New record
(°C)
Old
record
Years of
record
Average for
October
Hobart Airport 14.4 = 14.4 in 1963 57 12.4
Larapuna (Eddystone Point) 14.7 14.3 in 1999 57 12.8
Flinders Island Airport 14.1 14.0 in 2005 52 12.7
Bicheno (Council Depot) 14.6 14.0 in 2008 40 12.9
Launceston (Ti Tree Bend) 14.0 13.5 in 2005 32 12.5
Fingal (Legge Street) 13.4 12.1 in 1999 29 11.1
Dover 12.4 12.2 in 2005 25 11.3
Lake Leake (Elizabeth River) 10.5 9.9 in 2005 25 8.6
Maydena Post Office 11.9 11.8 in 2005 23 10.1
Ross (The Boulevards) 12.9 12.4 in 2005 22 10.9
King Island Airport 13.7 13.2 in 1999 20 12.3

Highest October mean temperature for at least 20 years
Observed
(°C)
Most recent
higher
Average for
October
Bushy Park (Bushy Park Estates) 13.7 14.0 in 1963 11.7
Hobart (Ellerslie Road) 14.3 14.6 in 1963 12.4
Burnie (Round Hill) 13.3 13.4 in 1973 12.0
Butlers Gorge 9.7 10.3 in 1963* 7.5
Kunanyi (Mount Wellington Pinnacle) 6.8 7.3 in 1963* 3.5

* note: there are gaps in the historical record at this site, so it is possible a higher value has gone unreported.




Summary statistics for October 2015
Maximum temperatures
(°C)
Minimum temperatures
(°C)
Rainfall
(millimetres)
Mean for
October
2015
Diff
from
average
Highest for
October
2015
Mean for
October
2015
Diff
from
average
Lowest for
October
2015
Total for
October
2015
Average
for
October
Rank of
October
2015
Fraction of
October
average
Northern (district 91)
Bridport (Sea View Villas) 17.8 +1.4 23.7 7th 8.8 +1.0 4.0 27th 10.5 55.5 low 19%
Burnie (Round Hill) 17.8 +1.8 22.0 11th 8.8 +0.8 5.0 18th 7.5 83.6 lowest 9%
Cape Grim 15.3   20.9 15th 9.5   4.6 8th 2.2
Cape Grim BAPS (Comparison) 16.0 +1.6 21.9 15th 9.5 +0.3 5.0 8th 2.4 59.8 lowest 4%
Cressy Research Station 20.2 +3.1 25.6 15th 5.1 0.0 -2.5 18th 1.4 47.9 v low 3%
Devonport Airport 17.0 +1.2 22.1 16th 7.8 +0.5 2.9 18th 3.6 62.5 lowest 6%
Launceston (Ti Tree Bend) 20.5 +2.5 24.7 15th 7.5 +0.6 2.5 27th 0.6 49.3 lowest 1%
Launceston Airport 19.7 +2.2 24.4 15th 5.9 +0.6 0.7 18th 1.0 36.1 v low 3%
Low Head 16.5 +1.2 20.4 6th 9.8 +0.3 5.3 27th 6.8 48.3 low 14%
Luncheon Hill (Forestry) 18.0 +3.3 25.1 15th 7.1 +1.1 2.9 8th 5.8 126.5 lowest 5%
Scottsdale (West Minstone Road) 18.3 +1.9 23.6 6th 6.1 +0.3 1.1 17th 14.2 80.9 lowest 18%
Sheffield School Farm 17.8 +2.7 24.3 3rd 6.2 +0.5 2.0 17th 6.8 78.2 v low 9%
Smithton Aerodrome 18.0 +1.7 22.7 3rd 6.3 -0.6 0.3 1st 4.6 75.7 v low 6%
Wynyard Airport 17.8 +1.7 23.0 6th 6.5 +0.4 1.5 8th 13.8 94.2 v low 15%
East Coast (district 92)
Bicheno (Council Depot) 19.3 +1.9 30.5 6th 10.0 +1.5 5.4 13th 24.2 54.8 low 44%
Fingal (Legge Street) 21.0 +3.6 28.7 6th 5.7 +0.9 -1.3 8th 2.8 53.8 lowest 5%
Friendly Beaches 20.6 +2.5 33.6 6th 9.7 +1.2 4.1 13th 9.6 54.2 v low 18%
Lake Leake (Elizabeth River) 16.9 +3.2 23.5 6th 4.1 +0.6 -1.6 8th 8.0 74.5 lowest 11%
Larapuna (Eddystone Point) 19.0 +2.5 28.8 6th 10.4 +1.3 7.1 7th 4.6 68.1 lowest 7%
Maria Island (Point Lesueur) 18.3 +1.6 29.0 3rd 10.2 +0.9 6.5 13th 9.2 31.4 v low 29%
Orford (Aubin Court) 19.4 +2.1 30.5 3rd 8.3 +1.1 3.9 9th 14.0 58.5 v low 24%
St Helens Aerodrome 19.3 +1.9 27.9 6th 9.2 +1.2 3.9 28th 9.4 62.0 v low 15%
Swan Island 17.4 +1.4 22.6 15th 11.2 +1.0 8.7 28th 5.4 46.1 v low 12%
Swansea (Francis Street) 19.7   29.9 6th 8.2   2.2 8th 12.2
Midlands (district 93)
Ross (The Boulevards) 20.3 +3.3 26.9 15th 5.4 +0.5 -1.0 19th 3.2 40.7 lowest 8%
Southeast (district 94)
Campania (Kincora) 21.5 +3.6 32.7 6th 7.1 +0.6 1.0 8th 7.0 39.6 v low 18%
Cape Bruny (Cape Bruny) 17.0 +1.7 24.8 15th 8.5 +0.3 4.8 13th 21.8 66.4 v low 33%
Cape Bruny Lighthouse 16.2 +1.8 24.2 15th 9.0 +1.1 5.2 13th 23.0 83.0 v low 28%
Dennes Point 18.2   30.2 6th 8.6   4.6 13th 18.0
Dover 18.8 +2.6 29.9 15th 6.0 -0.4 0.9 13th 21.0 85.4 v low 25%
Dunalley (Stroud Point) 19.1   32.6 6th 9.6   4.3 13th 10.4
Grove (Research Station) 19.8 +2.7 29.7 15th 4.9 -0.6 -0.6 8th 20.8 59.0 v low 35%
Hobart (Ellerslie Road) 19.7 +2.7 31.7 6th 8.8 +1.0 4.0 13th 14.4 61.3 v low 23%
Hobart Airport 20.4 +3.1 32.7 6th 8.4 +0.9 3.0 28th 6.8 45.6 lowest 15%
Kunanyi (Mount Wellington Pinnacle) 11.6 +4.5 21.3 15th 2.0 +2.0 -3.2 27th 29.0 76.4 low 38%
Maatsuyker Island Lighthouse 13.7 +0.4 19.4 15th 8.4 +0.9 5.4 7th 35.4 105.1 lowest 34%
Melton Mowbray (North Stockman) 20.7 +4.1 30.1 15th 5.8 +0.3 -1.0 9th 4.2 40.4 v low 10%
Tasman Island 15.4 +1.9 28.0 6th 8.6 +1.1 5.6 13th 3.2 61.1 v low 5%
Tunnack Fire Station 18.4 +4.0 27.1 15th 4.2 -0.1 -2.9 8th 9.0 51.3 v low 18%
Derwent Valley (district 95)
Bushy Park (Bushy Park Estates) 21.7 +4.0 31.4 6th 5.6 -0.2 -0.8 8th 10.6 57.0 lowest 19%
Maydena Post Office 19.1 +3.5 28.0 15th 4.7 0.0 -2.1 27th 39.6 117.5 lowest 34%
Ouse Fire Station 21.6 +3.9 29.9 6th 5.4 +0.1 -1.5 8th 6.4 51.8 v low 12%
Central Plateau (district 96)
Butlers Gorge 16.9 +4.4 24.2 15th 2.5 +0.1 -5.0 27th 38.8 159.8 lowest 24%
Liawenee 16.7 +5.2 21.9 6th 1.3 +0.7 -6.4 17th 10.2 65.8 v low 16%
West Coast (district 97)
Cape Sorell 16.1 +1.8 20.2 15th 9.3 +0.6 6.0 13th 15.4 106.3 lowest 14%
Hartz Mountain (Keoghs Pimple) 14.6 +3.9 23.8 15th 3.6 +1.1 -0.9 27th 34.2 86.9 v low 39%
Low Rocky Point 15.8   21.1 5th 8.5   3.3 27th 38.6 108.0 lowest 36%
Mount Read 10.9 +3.3 19.7 15th 2.3 +1.0 -1.2 1st 48.4 372.7 v low 13%
Scotts Peak Dam 18.5 +4.1 27.3 15th 5.9 +0.9 0.8 13th 49.0 169.7 v low 29%
Strahan Aerodrome 18.1 +2.1 27.0 15th 7.2 -0.1 1.3 8th 25.2 116.7 v low 22%
Warra 16.5 +3.0 26.5 15th 4.4 +0.1 -1.8 13th 61.6 196.1 v low 31%
King Island (district 98)
King Island Airport 18.2 +2.4 28.0 5th 9.1 +0.3 1.8 8th 3.6 71.7 lowest 5%
Flinders Island (district 99)
Flinders Island Airport 20.2 +3.5 32.7 6th 8.0 -0.6 -0.5 8th 1.8 58.5 lowest 3%
Hogan Island 19.2   29.3 6th 11.4   7.8 8th 5.0 40.5 v low 12%
Antarctica and Macquarie Island (district 300)
Macquarie Island 5.6 -0.2 7.0 15th 1.3 -0.7 -1.4 19th 110.0 77.9 high 141%

Notes

The Monthly climate summary lists 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.

A climate summary is generally published on the first working day of each month.

This statement has been prepared based on information available at 9 am on Monday 2 November 2015. Some checks have been made on the data, but it is possible that results will change as new information becomes available.

Averages for individual sites 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.

The ACORN-SAT dataset is used for temperature area averages.

Further information

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