Monday, 2 October 2017 - Monthly Climate Summary for Tasmania - Product code IDCKGC17R0
Tasmania in September 2017: a cool start to spring
Tasmania had a cool September, especially early in the month when there were several days with snow to low levels. The eastern third of the State had another relatively dry month, but rain was above average in the west.
A cool start to spring
- Cold weather was dominant in Tasmania throughout the month, ensuring it was the State's coolest September since 2003
- Cold outbreaks saw snow fall on the mountains several times during the month along with strong and gusty winds (including on the 30th), with snow settling to low levels from the 4th to the 6th, and again on the 8th and 9th
- Some sites with relatively short record had their coldest September day on record on the 4th or 5th, and kunanyi / Mount Wellington had its coldest temperature of the year on the morning of the 5th
- The main warm spells were on the 18th, and again from the 21st to the 23rd; although Tasmania escaped the heat that affected the eastern mainland Bridport did have its highest September temperature on record on the 23rd
- The statewide mean maximum temperature was 0.74 °C below average (the coolest since 2010) and the mean minimum temperature was 0.64 °C below average (the coolest since 2003), giving a mean temperature 0.68 °C below average (the coolest since 2003)
- Tasmania was the only State to record a below-average statewide mean temperature in September
Another dry month in eastern Tasmania
- September was another month with below-average rain in the eastern third of Tasmania, with totals below 10 mm at some East Coast sites
- Westerly winds and cold fronts meant rainfall totals were above average in the western highlands
- Total rainfall for the State was about 16% above average
Cold nights for Hobart
- The mean daily maximum temperature for Hobart (Ellerslie Road) was 15.1 °C, equal to the long-term average
- After recording only 9.3 °C on the 5th, Hobart reached 21.4 °C on the 18th (the warmest day since autumn) then reached 22.3 °C on the 21st
- The mean daily minimum temperature for Hobart (Ellerslie Road) was 5.8 °C, which is 0.6 °C below the long-term average and the coolest for September since 2003
- Hobart's coldest temperature for the month was 1.0 °C on the morning of the 1st
- Total rainfall for Hobart was 46.2 mm, a little below the long-term average of 53.2 mm
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 September 2017 | |
|---|---|
| Hottest day | 24.6 °C at Flinders Island Airport on the 23rd |
| Warmest days on average | 16.6 °C at Friendly Beaches |
| Coolest days on average | 3.3 °C at Mount Read |
| Coldest day | -3.0 °C at kunanyi (Mount Wellington Pinnacle) on the 8th |
| Coldest night | -8.0 °C at Liawenee on the 1st |
| Coolest nights on average | -2.2 °C at kunanyi (Mount Wellington Pinnacle) |
| Warmest nights on average | 8.4 °C at Swan Island |
| Warmest night | 13.2 °C at Flinders Island Airport on the 3rd |
| Warmest on average overall | 11.6 °C at Bicheno (Council Depot) |
| Coolest on average overall | 0.8 °C at kunanyi (Mount Wellington Pinnacle) |
| Wettest overall | 461.4 mm at Mount Read |
| Driest overall | 9.1 mm at Bicheno (Council Depot) |
| Wettest day | 51.2 mm at Mount Read on the 24th |
| Strongest wind gust | 159 km/h at Cape Grim BAPS (Comparison) on the 29th |
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
| Highest September total rainfall for at least 20 years | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Observed (mm) |
Most recent higher |
Average for September |
|||
| Butlers Gorge | 305.0 | 451.8 | in 1980* | 169.5 | |
* note: there is a 19-year gap in the historical record at Butlers Gorge from 1999 to 2007, so it is possible a higher value has gone unreported
| Record highest September temperature | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
New record (°C) |
Old record |
Years of record |
Average for September |
|||
| Bridport (Sea View Villas) | 21.5 | on the 23rd | 20.5 | on the 30th in 2001 | 22 | 14.9 |
| Record lowest September daily maximum temperature | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
New record (°C) |
Old record |
Years of record |
Average for September |
|||
| Cape Grim BAPS (Comparison) | 9.1 | on the 4th | 9.8 | on the 22nd in 2015 | 25 | 13.5 |
| Luncheon Hill (Forestry) | 5.6 | on the 4th | 5.9 | on the 15th in 1998 | 22 | 12.5 |
| Cape Bruny (Cape Bruny) | 8.4 | on the 5th | = 8.4 | on the 15th in 2010 | 21 | 14.5 |
| Mount Read | -1.9 | on the 4th | -1.6 | on the 19th in 2002 | 21 | 5.7 |
| Sheffield School Farm | 6.4 | on the 5th | 7.0 | on the 9th in 2002 | 21 | 13.3 |
| Smithton Aerodrome | 9.2 | on the 4th | 9.7 | on the 15th in 1998 | 21 | 14.9 |
| Low Head | 9.8 | on the 5th | = 9.8 | on the 15th in 1998 | 20 | 14.1 |
| Ouse Fire Station | 7.4 | on the 5th | 8.0 | on the 9th in 2002 | 20 | 15.8 |
| Record lowest September temperature | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
New record (°C) |
Old record |
Years of record |
Average for September |
|||
| Ouse Fire Station | -4.8 | on the 1st | -4.3 | on the 8th in 2003 | 20 | 4.0 |
| Lowest September mean daily minimum temperature for at least 20 years | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Observed (°C) |
Most recent lower |
Average for September |
|||
| Burnie (Round Hill) | 5.5 | 4.5 | in 1970 | 6.9 | |
| Cape Grim BAPS (Comparison) | 7.8 | 7.0 | in 1992* | 8.6 | |
* note: there are gaps in the historical record at this site, so it is possible a lower value has gone unreported
| Lowest September mean temperature for at least 20 years | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Observed (°C) |
Most recent lower |
Average for September |
|||
| Burnie (Round Hill) | 9.6 | 8.6 | in 1970 | 10.6 | |
| Cape Grim BAPS (Comparison) | 10.2 | 9.5 | in 1992* | 11.1 | |
* note: there are gaps in the historical record at this site, so it is possible a lower value has gone unreported
Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top
| Summary statistics for September 2017 | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maximum temperatures (°C) |
Minimum temperatures (°C) |
Rainfall (millimetres) |
||||||||||
| Mean for September 2017 |
Diff from average |
Highest for September 2017 |
Mean for September 2017 |
Diff from average |
Lowest for September 2017 |
Total for September 2017 |
Average for September |
Rank of September 2017 |
Fraction of September average |
|||
| Northern (district 91) | ||||||||||||
| Burnie (Round Hill) | 13.7 | -0.7 | 16.6 | 23rd | 5.5 | -1.4 | 2.1 | 5th | 119.2 | 88.7 | high | 134% |
| Cape Grim | 12.4 | 15.2 | 21st | 7.9 | 3.5 | 5th | 108.6 | |||||
| Cape Grim BAPS (Comparison) | 12.6 | -0.9 | 15.9 | 21st | 7.8 | -0.8 | 3.5 | 5th | 114.2 | 78.8 | high | 145% |
| Cressy Research Station | 13.7 | -1.2 | 16.9 | 18th | 2.5 | -1.6 | -2.9 | 1st | 61.2 | 63.1 | average | 97% |
| Devonport Airport | 13.7 | -0.6 | 17.4 | 23rd | 5.4 | -0.8 | 0.9 | 17th | 92.0 | 75.2 | average | 122% |
| Launceston (Ti Tree Bend) | 14.7 | -1.0 | 17.6 | 18th | 4.0 | -1.3 | -1.2 | 9th | ||||
| Launceston Airport | 13.9 | -1.4 | 17.5 | 21st | 2.3 | -1.9 | -3.4 | 8th | 50.4 | 58.1 | low | 87% |
| Low Head | 13.0 | -1.1 | 17.2 | 23rd | 8.0 | -0.5 | 3.1 | 17th | 49.6 | 61.3 | low | 81% |
| Luncheon Hill (Forestry) | 10.3 | -2.2 | 15.2 | 22nd | 4.4 | -1.1 | 0.1 | 5th | 239.0 | 173.6 | high | 138% |
| Marrawah | 12.7 | -1.0 | 15.2 | 22nd | 7.1 | -0.4 | 3.0 | 5th | 140.4 | 104.4 | high | 134% |
| Scottsdale (West Minstone Road) | 13.3 | -1.0 | 20.8 | 23rd | 3.6 | -1.2 | -2.2 | 9th | 60.0 | 95.9 | low | 63% |
| Sheffield School Farm | 11.3 | -2.0 | 14.5 | 10th | 3.4 | -1.4 | -0.4 | 5th | 116.2 | 125.3 | low | 93% |
| Smithton Aerodrome | 13.6 | -1.3 | 17.5 | 21st | 5.5 | -0.7 | 0.9 | 17th | 128.0 | 101.0 | high | 127% |
| Wynyard Airport | 13.6 | -0.9 | 16.6 | 21st | 3.7 | -1.3 | -0.5 | 9th | 132.6 | 98.0 | high | 135% |
| East Coast (district 92) | ||||||||||||
| Bicheno (Council Depot) | 16.4 | +0.2 | 19.9 | 23rd | 6.7 | -0.8 | 2.6 | 20th | 9.1 | 44.4 | v low | 20% |
| Fingal (Legge Street) | 14.9 | -0.5 | 20.8 | 23rd | 1.8 | -1.5 | -3.9 | 5th | 19.0 | 49.6 | low | 38% |
| Friendly Beaches | 16.6 | -0.2 | 22.6 | 21st | 6.2 | -1.4 | 1.8 | 5th | 14.2 | 41.2 | v low | 34% |
| Lake Leake (Elizabeth River) | 10.9 | -0.6 | 15.9 | 22nd | 1.0 | -1.1 | -5.1 | 1st | 45.2 | 70.7 | low | 64% |
| larapuna (Eddystone Point) | 15.2 | +0.4 | 18.1 | 22nd | 6.8 | -1.1 | 1.6 | 8th | 27.6 | 62.9 | low | 44% |
| Maria Island (Point Lesueur) | 14.5 | -0.7 | 18.5 | 3rd | 7.2 | -1.3 | 3.2 | 5th | 24.8 | 48.3 | low | 51% |
| Orford (Aubin Court) | 15.4 | -0.4 | 21.7 | 3rd | 4.8 | -0.8 | -1.2 | 1st | 27.0 | 52.4 | low | 52% |
| St Helens Aerodrome | 16.0 | -0.1 | 20.0 | 23rd | 5.4 | -1.3 | 0.2 | 8th | 13.2 | 52.3 | v low | 25% |
| Swan Island | 14.0 | -0.7 | 17.4 | 23rd | 8.4 | -0.8 | 4.1 | 17th | 23.4 | 55.0 | v low | 43% |
| Swansea (Francis Street) | 16.1 | 21.8 | 18th | 4.9 | -0.6 | 20th | 9.3 | |||||
| Midlands (district 93) | ||||||||||||
| Ross (The Boulevards) | 13.9 | -0.7 | 18.1 | 21st | 2.7 | -1.1 | -4.2 | 1st | 32.2 | 52.0 | average | 62% |
| Southeast (district 94) | ||||||||||||
| Campania (Kincora) | 15.4 | -0.8 | 21.6 | 21st | 4.3 | -1.1 | -2.3 | 1st | 35.2 | 48.0 | average | 73% |
| Cape Bruny (Cape Bruny) | 13.5 | -1.0 | 20.8 | 18th | 6.0 | -1.6 | 1.8 | 5th | 103.0 | 71.9 | high | 143% |
| Cape Bruny Lighthouse | 12.9 | -0.4 | 20.2 | 18th | 5.9 | -1.1 | 0.8 | 30th | 107.6 | 81.1 | high | 133% |
| Dennes Point | 13.8 | 21.8 | 21st | 6.4 | 3.0 | 8th | 45.8 | |||||
| Dover | 13.8 | -1.0 | 21.2 | 21st | 3.9 | -1.2 | -1.5 | 1st | 114.0 | 83.5 | high | 137% |
| Dunalley (Stroud Point) | 14.6 | 21.3 | 3rd | 6.6 | 2.9 | 1st | 34.8 | |||||
| Grove (Research Station) | 14.1 | -1.4 | 21.8 | 21st | 3.4 | -1.0 | -2.5 | 1st | 74.6 | 80.7 | average | 92% |
| Hobart (Ellerslie Road) | 15.1 | 0.0 | 22.3 | 21st | 5.8 | -0.6 | 1.0 | 1st | 46.2 | 53.2 | average | 87% |
| Hobart Airport | 15.3 | -0.1 | 22.2 | 21st | 5.3 | -0.8 | 0.1 | 1st | 30.8 | 41.4 | average | 74% |
| kunanyi (Mount Wellington Pinnacle) | 3.8 | -0.8 | 10.8 | 21st | -2.2 | -1.1 | -6.4 | 5th | 40.0 | 72.8 | low | 55% |
| Maatsuyker Island Lighthouse | 11.1 | -1.1 | 17.8 | 18th | 6.0 | -0.9 | 2.2 | 5th | 106.0 | 108.6 | average | 98% |
| Melton Mowbray (North Stockman) | 13.7 | -1.0 | 21.9 | 21st | 3.3 | -1.1 | -3.2 | 1st | 46.2 | 49.6 | average | 93% |
| Tasman Island | 11.8 | -0.9 | 18.1 | 3rd | 5.5 | -1.5 | 1.1 | 8th | 63.0 | 79.1 | average | 80% |
| Tunnack Fire Station | 11.4 | -1.2 | 15.4 | 22nd | 2.1 | -1.3 | -3.3 | 20th | 35.0 | 61.0 | low | 57% |
| Derwent Valley (district 95) | ||||||||||||
| Bushy Park (Bushy Park Estates) | 14.5 | -1.0 | 21.5 | 21st | 3.6 | -0.4 | -3.6 | 1st | 77.6 | 54.1 | high | 143% |
| Maydena Post Office | 11.8 | -2.0 | 20.5 | 21st | 2.4 | -1.2 | -1.9 | 1st | 192.0 | 135.3 | high | 142% |
| Ouse Fire Station | 13.8 | -2.0 | 20.7 | 21st | 3.4 | -0.6 | -4.8 | 1st | 112.2 | 69.6 | high | 161% |
| Central Plateau (district 96) | ||||||||||||
| Butlers Gorge | 8.2 | -2.0 | 15.1 | 22nd | 0.7 | -0.3 | -4.8 | 1st | 305.0 | 169.5 | v high | 180% |
| Liawenee | 7.4 | -1.7 | 14.7 | 22nd | -1.3 | -0.9 | -8.0 | 1st | 109.4 | 115.1 | average | 95% |
| West Coast (district 97) | ||||||||||||
| Cape Sorell | 13.0 | -0.2 | 16.7 | 22nd | 7.5 | -0.4 | 4.5 | 9th | 140.0 | 121.4 | average | 115% |
| Hartz Mountain (Keoghs Pimple) | 6.5 | -2.3 | 14.6 | 18th | 0.4 | -1.6 | -3.1 | 5th | 141.0 | 99.3 | v high | 142% |
| Low Rocky Point | 12.6 | 17.7 | 18th | 6.8 | 3.1 | 1st | 150.6 | 131.4 | average | 115% | ||
| Mount Read | 3.3 | -2.4 | 8.9 | 22nd | -1.1 | -1.7 | -4.8 | 5th | 461.4 | 366.1 | average | 126% |
| Scotts Peak Dam | 10.5 | -2.0 | 20.2 | 2nd | 3.0 | -1.5 | -0.7 | 1st | 332.8 | 217.6 | v high | 153% |
| Strahan Aerodrome | 13.4 | -1.0 | 18.9 | 2nd | 6.2 | -0.1 | 1.1 | 1st | 200.8 | 152.4 | high | 132% |
| Warra | 10.1 | -1.6 | 18.8 | 18th | 2.1 | -1.5 | -3.7 | 1st | 327.8 | 200.8 | v high | 163% |
| King Island (district 98) | ||||||||||||
| King Island Airport | 14.2 | -0.5 | 18.3 | 23rd | 8.1 | -0.3 | 4.4 | 5th | 84.2 | 86.5 | average | 97% |
| Flinders Island (district 99) | ||||||||||||
| Flinders Island Airport | 15.1 | 0.0 | 24.6 | 23rd | 7.6 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 17th | 58.4 | 62.9 | average | 93% |
| Hogan Island | 14.2 | -0.4 | 23.3 | 23rd | 8.0 | -1.3 | 2.2 | 5th | 113.4 | 55.4 | v high | 205% |
| Note: From 2017, information about Macquarie Island can be found in the climate summary for the Remote Islands and Antarctica | ||||||||||||
Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top
Notes
The Monthly climate summary, generally published on the first working day of each month, 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. More extensive discussion of significant weather events, along with later information and data that has had greater opportunity for quality control, will be presented in the Monthly Weather Review.
This statement has been prepared based on information available at 9 am on Monday 2 October 2017. Some checks have been made on the data, but it is possible that results will change as new information becomes available.
In some situations, some or all of the rainfall is in the form of hail or snow. In these cases the totals given are for the water equivalent: the depth of liquid water that results from melting any frozen precipitation. There can be significant 'undercatch' of snow in strong winds, meaning the true precipitation can be higher than that reported.
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.
Where temperature area averages are mentioned, they are derived from the ACORN-SAT dataset.
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
