Tuesday, 1 November 2016 - Monthly Climate Summary for Tasmania - Product code IDCKGC17R0
Tasmania in October 2016: cool, wet and windy
Tasmania had a cool, wet and windy October. Rainfall was very much above average in the west, temperatures were mostly below average, and several extreme wind gusts were recorded.
A wet month for most of Tasmania
- Heavy rain at the end of September continued into the start of October as a low passed close to the State, with a few sites having their highest October daily rainfall on record on the 1st
- More heavy rain later in the month, with some sites in the Midlands having their highest October daily rainfall on record to 9 am on the 22nd
- Rainfall was well above average in western Tasmania, and a few sites had their highest total October rainfall on record; totals were below average in parts of the east
- State average rain of 209 mm was 69% above average, the wettest October since 1988, and in marked contrast to the record dry October 2015
- State average rain for the 10 months from January to October was the third-wettest on record, despite some generally dry months early in the year
Mostly cool days
- Cooler than average daytime maximum temperatures for most of the month, and especially around the 12th and 22nd when snow fell on the highlands, but some mild days around the 15th, 25th and 30th
- Mean maximum temperatures for the month between half and two degrees below average at most sites
- State mean maximum temperature 0.72 °C below average, the coolest October since 2003 and in marked contrast to the very warm October 2015
- Many cool nights but some mild nights: mean minimum temperatures for the month within half a degree of average at most sites and the State mean minimum temperature 0.14 °C above average
Strong and gusty winds
- Tasmania experienced persistent and strong westerly winds on many days during the month, which intensified when low pressure systems passed close to the State
- Maatsuyker Island registered a gust to 159 km/h on the afternoon of the 5th, Australia's strongest October gust recorded in the climate database. Kunanyi (Mount Wellington Pinnacle) recorded a gust to 156 km/h on the 9th, becoming the equal-second strongest October gust for Australia
Cool and wet in Hobart
- Hobart's rain of 83.4 mm for the month was above the long-term average of 61 mm, and much wetter than the 14 mm received in October 2015
- Daytime temperatures were 0.2 °C above the long-term average in Hobart, but 2.5 °C cooler than October 2015; the warmest temperature was 26.1 °C on the 15th
- Overnight temperatures in Hobart were also 0.2 °C above the long-term average for October, with the coldest temperature 3.7 °C on the morning of the 13th
- Several windy days in Hobart through the month, including a northerly gust to 106 km/h on the 9th and a southerly gust to 65 km/h on the 22nd
Further information
- Media
- media@bom.gov.au (03) 9669 4057
- Enquiries
- helpdesk.climate@bom.gov.au
Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top
| Extremes in October 2016 | |
|---|---|
| Hottest day | 26.2 °C at Dover on the 30th |
| Warmest days on average | 18.1 °C at Friendly Beaches |
| Coolest days on average | 6.1 °C at Mount Read |
| Coldest day | -1.1 °C at Kunanyi (Mount Wellington Pinnacle) on the 12th |
| Coldest night | -5.2 °C at Liawenee on the 29th |
| Coolest nights on average | -0.7 °C at Kunanyi (Mount Wellington Pinnacle) |
| Warmest nights on average | 9.7 °C at Swan Island |
| Warmest night | 15.2 °C at Flinders Island Airport on the 16th |
| Warmest on average overall | 13.2 °C at Bicheno (Council Depot) |
| Coolest on average overall | 2.7 °C at Kunanyi (Mount Wellington Pinnacle) |
| Wettest overall | 605.4 mm at Mount Read |
| Driest overall | 21.0 mm at Maria Island (Point Lesueur) |
| Wettest day | 113.2 mm at Mount Read on the 1st |
| Strongest wind gust | 159 km/h at Maatsuyker Island Lighthouse on the 5th |
Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top
| Maps | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Observed | Anomaly | Decile rank | |
| Total rainfall |
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| Mean daily maximum temperatures |
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| Mean daily minimum temperatures |
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Click on a map to show it full size in a pop-up window
| Record highest October daily rainfall | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
New record (mm) |
Old record |
Years of record |
||||
| Savage River Mine | 56.6 | on the 1st | 44.6 | on the 9th in 1992 | 51 | |
| Ross (The Boulevards) | 33.4 | on the 22nd | 33.0 | on the 11th in 1999 | 24 | |
| Mount Morriston (Macquarie River) | 29.4 | on the 22nd | 21.2 | on the 14th in 2000 | 23 | |
| Ross (Macquarie River) | 32.2 | on the 22nd | 30.6 | on the 11th in 1999 | 22 | |
| Hartz Mountain (Keoghs Pimple) | 33.6 | on the 1st | 33.0 | on the 11th in 1999 | 21 | |
| Mount Read | 113.2 | on the 1st | 104.6 | on the 15th in 2007 | 21 | |
| Cape Bruny (Cape Bruny) | 26.8 | on the 17th | 22.8 | on the 1st in 2000 | 20 | |
| Record highest October total rainfall | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
New record (mm) |
Old record |
Years of record |
Average for October |
||
| Western Creek (Somer Hill) | 204.9 | 193.4 | in 1988 | 52 | 89.3 |
| Strahan Aerodrome | 251.0 | 227.2 | in 1988 | 31 | 121.0 |
| Maydena Post Office | 256.8 | 240.5 | in 2013 | 25 | 123.1 |
| Three Hummock Island | 130.6 | 111.1 | in 1945 | 25 | 62.8 |
| Ross (The Boulevards) | 86.6 | 81.2 | in 2001 | 24 | 42.7 |
| Low Rocky Point | 193.6 | 176.0 | in 1996 | 23 | 111.7 |
| Meander (Meander River) | 167.4 | 149.4 | in 2001 | 22 | 66.3 |
| Golden Valley (Brodies Road) | 151.2 | 143.4 | in 2001 | 21 | 71.9 |
| Luncheon Hill (Forestry) | 246.2 | 215.8 | in 1998 | 21 | 132.2 |
| Ross (Macquarie River) | 81.4 | = 81.4 | in 2005 | 20 | 40.3 |
| Highest October total rainfall for at least 20 years | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Observed (mm) |
Most recent higher |
Average for October |
|||
| Bronte Heights | 192.2 | 193.7 | in 1915* | 90.2 | |
| Waratah (Mount Road) | 355.4 | 564.5 | in 1947* | 198.1 | |
| Weetah (Weetah Road) | 156.8 | 176.8 | in 1986 | 79.2 | |
| Maatsuyker Island Lighthouse | 178.6 | 194.4 | in 1988 | 105.6 | |
| Zeehan (West Coast Pioneers Museum) | 388.4 | 554.8 | in 1988* | 211.5 | |
| Lucaston (Bakers Creek Road) | 142.0 | 147.0 | in 1989* | 84.8 | |
| Savage River Mine | 321.2 | 392.4 | in 1988* | 169.6 | |
| Cape Sorell | 163.0 | 172.2 | in 1968* | 107.0 | |
* note: there are gaps in the historical record at this site, so it is possible a higher value has gone unreported.
| Lowest October mean daily minimum temperature for at least 20 years | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Observed (°C) |
Most recent lower |
Average for October |
|||
| Burnie (Round Hill) | 6.7 | 6.3 | in 1970 | 8.1 | |
Macquarie Island, about 1500 km southeast of Hobart, is technically part of Tasmania.
| Record highest October mean daily maximum temperature | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
New record (°C) |
Old record |
Years of record |
Average for October |
||
| Macquarie Island | 7.1 | 6.9 | in 1989 | 68 | 5.8 |
| Record highest October daily minimum temperature | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
New record (°C) |
Old record |
Years of record |
Average for October |
|||
| Macquarie Island | 7.2 | on the 31st | 6.7 | on the 15th in 1986 | 69 | 2.0 |
| Highest October mean daily minimum temperature for at least 20 years | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Observed (°C) |
Most recent higher |
Average for October |
|||
| Macquarie Island | 3.3 | 3.4 | in 1989 | 2.0 | |
| Record highest October mean temperature | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
New record (°C) |
Old record |
Years of record |
Average for October |
||
| Macquarie Island | 5.2 | = 5.2 | in 1989 | 68 | 3.9 |
Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top
| Summary statistics for October 2016 | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maximum temperatures (°C) |
Minimum temperatures (°C) |
Rainfall (millimetres) |
||||||||||
| Mean for October 2016 |
Diff from average |
Highest for October 2016 |
Mean for October 2016 |
Diff from average |
Lowest for October 2016 |
Total for October 2016 |
Average for October |
Rank of October 2016 |
Fraction of October average |
|||
| Northern (district 91) | ||||||||||||
| Bridport (Sea View Villas) | 15.9 | -0.6 | 19.2 | 16th | 7.1 | -0.8 | 2.0 | 13th | 94.6 | 57.1 | high | 166% |
| Burnie (Round Hill) | 15.4 | -0.6 | 18.6 | 27th | 6.7 | -1.4 | 2.7 | 19th | 151.5 | 84.6 | high | 179% |
| Cape Grim | 13.7 | 18.7 | 29th | 8.6 | 6.0 | 29th | 103.6 | |||||
| Cape Grim BAPS (Comparison) | 14.1 | -0.3 | 18.6 | 29th | 8.6 | -0.6 | 6.1 | 31st | 101.2 | 61.2 | v high | 165% |
| Cressy Research Station | 15.7 | -1.6 | 19.9 | 30th | 5.4 | +0.3 | -1.4 | 13th | 97.4 | 50.7 | high | 192% |
| Devonport Airport | 15.3 | -0.6 | 18.9 | 30th | 6.8 | -0.5 | 1.5 | 23rd | 89.8 | 63.0 | high | 143% |
| Launceston (Ti Tree Bend) | 16.8 | -1.3 | 21.0 | 29th | 7.0 | +0.1 | 0.3 | 13th | 74.6 | 50.1 | high | 149% |
| Launceston Airport | 15.9 | -1.8 | 20.4 | 29th | 4.8 | -0.6 | -1.4 | 13th | 78.8 | 39.4 | v high | 200% |
| Low Head | 14.8 | -0.6 | 17.5 | 15th | 9.5 | 0.0 | 3.9 | 13th | 76.8 | 49.8 | high | 154% |
| Luncheon Hill (Forestry) | 13.3 | -1.6 | 19.8 | 25th | 5.5 | -0.5 | 2.0 | 11th | 246.2 | 132.2 | highest | 186% |
| Marrawah | 14.5 | -0.5 | 19.0 | 29th | 7.8 | -0.3 | 4.5 | 28th | 136.2 | 87.2 | high | 156% |
| Scottsdale (West Minstone Road) | 15.0 | -1.5 | 19.0 | 29th | 5.4 | -0.4 | 0.2 | 13th | 117.6 | 81.6 | high | 144% |
| Sheffield School Farm | 14.1 | -1.2 | 19.5 | 30th | 4.9 | -0.8 | 0.1 | 13th | ||||
| Smithton Aerodrome | 15.6 | -0.8 | 20.2 | 30th | 6.5 | -0.4 | 0.6 | 13th | 114.0 | 77.6 | high | 147% |
| Wynyard Airport | 16.1 | -0.1 | 21.5 | 30th | 5.9 | -0.2 | 0.0 | 13th | 145.8 | 95.3 | high | 153% |
| East Coast (district 92) | ||||||||||||
| Bicheno (Council Depot) | 17.9 | +0.4 | 23.4 | 15th | 8.5 | 0.0 | 5.1 | 1st | 36.1 | 54.6 | average | 66% |
| Fingal (Legge Street) | 16.6 | -0.9 | 21.2 | 16th | 4.8 | -0.1 | -1.4 | 19th | 59.8 | 53.8 | average | 111% |
| Friendly Beaches | 18.1 | -0.1 | 24.6 | 30th | 8.2 | -0.4 | 3.8 | 19th | 51.8 | 54.0 | average | 96% |
| Lake Leake (Elizabeth River) | 12.9 | -0.9 | 18.8 | 30th | 3.7 | +0.2 | -3.7 | 13th | 113.6 | 74.8 | high | 152% |
| Larapuna (Eddystone Point) | 16.5 | +0.3 | 20.3 | 16th | 8.7 | -0.3 | 3.7 | 11th | 45.4 | 67.9 | average | 67% |
| Maria Island (Point Lesueur) | 15.9 | -0.9 | 22.2 | 30th | 9.1 | -0.3 | 5.5 | 13th | 21.0 | 30.6 | low | 69% |
| Orford (Aubin Court) | 17.5 | +0.1 | 24.7 | 30th | 7.1 | -0.1 | 3.4 | 13th | 45.0 | 58.2 | average | 77% |
| St Helens Aerodrome | 17.5 | 0.0 | 21.8 | 7th | 7.6 | -0.4 | 2.7 | 19th | 49.8 | 61.2 | average | 81% |
| Swan Island | 15.4 | -0.7 | 18.5 | 20th | 9.7 | -0.6 | 4.8 | 13th | 81.0 | 48.6 | high | 167% |
| Swansea (Francis Street) | 17.3 | 24.4 | 30th | 7.8 | 2.8 | 14th | 62.4 | |||||
| Midlands (district 93) | ||||||||||||
| Ross (The Boulevards) | 15.8 | -1.3 | 20.6 | 30th | 5.1 | +0.2 | -2.7 | 13th | 86.6 | 42.7 | highest | 203% |
| Southeast (district 94) | ||||||||||||
| Campania (Kincora) | 16.9 | -1.2 | 25.0 | 30th | 7.1 | +0.6 | 0.1 | 13th | 67.4 | 41.3 | high | 163% |
| Cape Bruny (Cape Bruny) | 15.6 | +0.2 | 25.0 | 30th | 7.5 | -0.7 | 4.7 | 19th | 111.6 | 68.7 | high | 162% |
| Cape Bruny Lighthouse | 15.1 | +0.6 | 24.0 | 30th | 8.0 | +0.1 | 5.2 | 13th | 115.8 | 83.3 | high | 139% |
| Dennes Point | 16.1 | 24.3 | 15th | 8.3 | 4.9 | 19th | 75.6 | |||||
| Dover | 16.2 | -0.1 | 26.2 | 30th | 5.9 | -0.5 | 1.7 | 13th | 151.6 | 86.3 | v high | 176% |
| Dunalley (Stroud Point) | 16.6 | 25.4 | 15th | 8.5 | 5.1 | 11th | 46.6 | |||||
| Grove (Research Station) | 16.3 | -1.1 | 25.4 | 30th | 5.9 | +0.4 | -0.2 | 13th | 125.6 | 64.0 | v high | 196% |
| Hobart (Ellerslie Road) | 17.2 | +0.2 | 26.1 | 15th | 8.0 | +0.2 | 3.7 | 13th | 83.4 | 61.5 | high | 136% |
| Hobart Airport | 16.8 | -0.6 | 25.2 | 30th | 8.0 | +0.4 | 3.5 | 13th | 63.4 | 45.9 | high | 138% |
| Kunanyi (Mount Wellington Pinnacle) | 6.2 | -1.0 | 14.7 | 30th | -0.7 | -0.8 | -4.3 | 11th | 87.4 | 76.7 | average | 114% |
| Maatsuyker Island Lighthouse | 13.1 | -0.2 | 21.9 | 30th | 7.2 | -0.3 | 4.5 | 11th | 178.6 | 105.6 | v high | 169% |
| Melton Mowbray (North Stockman) | 15.7 | -1.1 | 23.8 | 15th | 5.6 | +0.1 | 0.4 | 13th | 54.0 | 41.1 | high | 131% |
| Tasman Island | 13.7 | 0.0 | 22.6 | 30th | 7.1 | -0.4 | 3.3 | 13th | 50.4 | 60.4 | average | 83% |
| Tunnack Fire Station | 13.4 | -1.2 | 19.1 | 15th | 4.3 | 0.0 | -0.3 | 13th | 68.2 | 52.1 | high | 131% |
| Derwent Valley (district 95) | ||||||||||||
| Bushy Park (Bushy Park Estates) | 16.8 | -0.9 | 24.7 | 15th | 5.9 | +0.1 | -0.1 | 13th | 85.6 | 57.2 | high | 150% |
| Maydena Post Office | 14.7 | -1.0 | 23.9 | 15th | 4.1 | -0.6 | -0.6 | 29th | 256.8 | 123.1 | highest | 209% |
| Ouse Fire Station | 16.5 | -1.4 | 24.3 | 15th | 5.2 | -0.1 | 1.1 | 29th | 109.2 | 54.8 | v high | 199% |
| Central Plateau (district 96) | ||||||||||||
| Butlers Gorge | 11.4 | -1.2 | 19.4 | 29th | 2.4 | 0.0 | -2.8 | 28th | 299.4 | 161.9 | v high | 185% |
| Liawenee | 9.8 | -2.1 | 17.0 | 15th | 0.5 | -0.2 | -5.2 | 29th | 211.8 | 74.9 | v high | 283% |
| West Coast (district 97) | ||||||||||||
| Cape Sorell | 15.2 | +0.8 | 20.0 | 29th | 8.6 | -0.1 | 5.2 | 11th | 163.0 | 107.0 | v high | 152% |
| Hartz Mountain (Keoghs Pimple) | 9.5 | -1.4 | 18.3 | 30th | 1.7 | -0.9 | -1.5 | 19th | 199.2 | 93.2 | v high | 214% |
| Low Rocky Point | 14.9 | 23.8 | 30th | 7.8 | 5.8 | 19th | 193.6 | 111.7 | highest | 173% | ||
| Mount Read | 6.1 | -1.6 | 14.2 | 29th | 0.1 | -1.2 | -3.0 | 23rd | 605.4 | 388.2 | high | 156% |
| Scotts Peak Dam | 13.7 | -0.9 | 24.1 | 29th | 4.8 | -0.3 | 1.6 | 11th | 279.8 | 175.8 | high | 159% |
| Strahan Aerodrome | 15.8 | -0.3 | 23.9 | 25th | 7.1 | -0.2 | 2.4 | 13th | 251.0 | 121.0 | highest | 207% |
| Warra | 12.5 | -1.2 | 22.4 | 30th | 3.7 | -0.6 | -0.6 | 28th | 310.8 | 205.7 | high | 151% |
| King Island (district 98) | ||||||||||||
| King Island Airport | 15.5 | -0.4 | 23.4 | 25th | 8.5 | -0.3 | 2.7 | 28th | 101.0 | 72.4 | high | 140% |
| Flinders Island (district 99) | ||||||||||||
| Flinders Island Airport | 16.7 | -0.1 | 21.8 | 9th | 8.3 | -0.3 | -0.5 | 13th | 73.4 | 58.7 | high | 125% |
| Hogan Island | 16.0 | -0.4 | 21.7 | 9th | 9.1 | -1.2 | 3.9 | 5th | 80.0 | 43.6 | high | 183% |
| Antarctica and Macquarie Island (district 300) | ||||||||||||
| Macquarie Island | 7.1 | +1.3 | 8.7 | 30th | 3.3 | +1.3 | -1.4 | 17th | 96.4 | 78.2 | high | 123% |
Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top
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 10 am on Tuesday 1 November 2016. 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
- 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
