Tasmania in July 2019: very wet in the west, dry in the east, warm for July

Westerly winds and cold fronts brought plenty of rain to western Tasmania, but the east had a relatively dry July. Temperatures were above average, despite several cold days and nights.

Very wet in the west, but dry in the east

  • Westerly winds and cold fronts were dominant during July, bringing frequent rain to western Tasmania
  • Some fronts were particularly active or had embedded thunderstorms, giving a few sites their highest July daily rainfall on record
  • Rainfall totals were above average over the western half and the northeast highlands, and very much above average in the western highlands
  • Zeehan and Lake Margaret Dam had their wettest July since 1970, and a few other sites in the west with shorter records had their wettest July on record
  • The East Coast had below average rain, with some areas very much below average
  • Friendly Beaches, Swansea and Point Lesueur on Maria Island reported less than 20 mm for the whole month, about one-third their July average
  • Tasmania's total rainfall for the month was 36% above average, but not as wet as July 2018 (which was wet across Tasmania apart from the East Coast)
  • For the year so far, rainfall has been very much below average near the East Coast, but close to average over the western half of Tasmania

Mild for winter, but some cold days and nights

  • As is typical for winter, there were several cold days with snow or persistent fog, and cold nights with frost
  • Overall, temperatures were above average for the time of year, with several days well above average
  • With wind and cloud a frequent occurrence during the month, relatively mild nights were common, especially near the coast
  • Tasmania's mean minimum temperature was 1.39 °C above the July average, warmer than July 2018 but not as warm as July 2016
  • Tasmania's mean maximum temperature was 0.57 °C above average, a little warmer than last July
  • Tasmania's overall mean temperature for July was 0.98 °C above average
  • It has been a warm year so far, with some areas in the southeast having their warmest January to July mean maximum temperature on record

A mostly mild month for Hobart

  • Total rainfall for Hobart (Ellerslie Road) was 46.6 mm, which is 89% of the long-term average of 52.3 mm
  • The mean daily maximum temperature for Hobart (Ellerslie Road) was 13.5 °C, which is 1.8 °C above the long-term average of 11.7 °C
  • Hobart had two days over 17 °C (the 1st and the 22nd) and seven days over 15 °C; the long-term July average is about three days over 15 °C
  • There were only two days that did not reach 10 °C (the 12th and the 13th), compared to a long-term average of about seven days that cold each July
  • The mean daily minimum temperature for Hobart (Ellerslie Road) was 6.0 °C, which is 1.4 °C above the long-term average of 4.6 °C
  • The coldest morning was 1.9 °C on the 27th; on average there are four or five mornings below 2 °C each July
  • The warmest morning was on the 1st when the minimum temperature was 10.0 °C
  • Hobart has had a warm and dry year so far, with the mean daily maximum temperature two degrees above average, the mean minimum temperature more than a degree above average, and rainfall only about 53% of the January to July average

Further information

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Extremes in July 2019
Hottest day 18.5 °C at Campania (Kincora) on the 1st
Warmest days on average 14.7 °C at Friendly Beaches
Coolest days on average 3.2 °C at kunanyi (Mount Wellington Pinnacle)
Coldest day -1.6 °C at kunanyi (Mount Wellington Pinnacle) on the 12th
Coldest night -7.0 °C at Liawenee on the 31st
Coolest nights on average -1.0 °C at kunanyi (Mount Wellington Pinnacle)
Warmest nights on average 8.9 °C at Hogan Island
Warmest night 12.5 °C at Flinders Island Airport on the 26th
Warmest on average overall 11.2 °C at King Island Airport
Coolest on average overall 1.1 °C at kunanyi (Mount Wellington Pinnacle)
Wettest overall 677.0 mm at Lake Margaret Dam
Driest overall 9.6 mm at Grindstone Point
Wettest day 62.4 mm at Mount Read on the 2nd
Strongest wind gust 150 km/h at Hogan Island on the 14th

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

Click on a map to show it full size in a pop-up window


Record highest July daily rainfall
New record
(mm)
Old
record
Years of
record
Strahan Aerodrome 47.6 on the 11th 47.4 on the 9th in 1989 34
Hartz Mountain (Keoghs Pimple) 45.0 on the 16th 39.2 on the 6th in 2014 22
Ouse Fire Station 26.4 on the 12th 25.6 on the 31st in 2014 22



Record highest July total rainfall
New record
(mm)
Old
record
Years of
record
Average for
July
Savage River Mine 385.8 381.7 in 1970 53 240.9
Lake St Clair National Park 428.8 405.0 in 2016 30 222.2
Queenstown (South Queenstown) 592.4 504.0 in 2016 23 299.3
Ouse Fire Station 113.2 108.6 in 2018 22 55.7

Highest July total rainfall for at least 20 years
Observed
(mm)
Most recent
higher
Average for
July
Lake Margaret Dam 677.0 769.2 in 1917* 357.6
Lake Margaret Power Station 589.8 595.1 in 1970* 318.0
Zeehan (West Coast Pioneers Museum) 495.7 544.1 in 1970* 283.7

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




Record highest July mean daily minimum temperature
New record
(°C)
Old
record
Years of
record
Average for
July
Fingal (Legge Street) 2.4 2.2 in 1996 33 0.5



Record highest July mean temperature
New record
(°C)
Old
record
Years of
record
Average for
July
Fingal (Legge Street) 7.7 7.5 in 2013 33 6.4



Summary statistics for July 2019
Maximum temperatures
(°C)
Minimum temperatures
(°C)
Rainfall
(millimetres)
Mean for
July
2019
Diff
from
average
Highest for
July
2019
Mean for
July
2019
Diff
from
average
Lowest for
July
2019
Total for
July
2019
Average
for
July
Rank of
July
2019
Fraction of
July
average
Northern (district 91)
Cape Grim 12.4   14.1 22nd 8.6   4.8 13th 146.2
Cape Grim BAPS (Comparison) 12.5 -0.1 14.8 6th 8.6 +0.4 5.0 13th 142.8 111.8 high 128%
Cressy Research Station 12.3 +0.5 15.4 26th 3.2 +1.6 -2.8 31st 89.0 65.4 high 136%
Devonport Airport 13.3 +0.5 16.1 6th 6.0 +1.3 0.1 30th 66.2 96.8 low 68%
Launceston (Ti Tree Bend) 13.4 +0.7 17.4 6th 3.5 +1.2 -2.2 31st 87.4 80.4 average 109%
Launceston Airport 11.9 +0.1 15.9 6th 2.8 +0.7 -2.2 27th 83.4 70.2 average 119%
Low Head 12.9 +0.1 14.7 6th 8.2 +1.3 2.8 31st 69.8 76.9 average 91%
Luncheon Hill (Forestry) 10.1 -0.4 14.5 6th 5.3 +0.3 0.4 30th 262.0 206.7 high 127%
Marrawah 12.6 +0.3 15.2 6th 7.1 +0.3 0.0 13th 172.6 143.3 high 120%
Scottsdale (West Minstone Road) 12.0 0.0 15.6 6th 4.2 +0.5 -1.0 27th 143.8 119.9 average 120%
Sheffield School Farm 10.8 0.0 13.5 8th 4.0 +0.7 -1.3 30th 176.8 139.2 high 127%
Smithton Aerodrome 13.0 -0.1 15.3 6th 6.2 +1.5 -1.4 30th 175.0 124.7 high 140%
Wynyard Airport 13.1 +0.4 15.0 25th 4.7 +1.2 -2.0 31st 158.4 133.6 average 119%
East Coast (district 92)
Fingal (Legge Street) 13.1 +0.9 16.6 25th 2.4 +1.9 -4.9 31st 28.4 55.1 low 52%
Friendly Beaches 14.7 +0.9 18.2 22nd 6.4 +0.7 0.7 31st 12.8 41.7 low 31%
Lake Leake (Elizabeth River) 9.2 +0.6 11.9 6th 1.2 +1.0 -4.7 31st 57.0 76.6 average 74%
larapuna (Eddystone Point) 13.9 +0.9 16.1 26th 7.6 +0.7 3.7 31st 59.8 74.8 average 80%
Maria Island (Point Lesueur) 13.2 +0.5 15.8 21st 7.9 +0.5 5.1 31st 9.8 31.0 v low 32%
Orford (Aubin Court) 13.7 +0.6 16.6 21st 4.8 +1.3 0.0 27th 22.4 55.0 low 41%
St Helens Aerodrome 13.9 +0.3 16.9 16th 6.1 +1.3 0.9 31st 37.6 46.6 average 81%
Swan Island 13.3 +0.1 14.4 21st 8.7 +0.3 4.2 30th 61.8 69.5 average 89%
Swansea (Francis Street) 14.4   17.6 22nd 5.3   -0.9 31st 11.8
Midlands (district 93)
Ross (The Boulevards) 11.7 +0.4 14.4 16th 2.2 +0.8 -4.4 31st 42.8 41.7 average 103%
Southeast (district 94)
Campania (Kincora) 13.9 +0.8 18.5 1st 4.9 +1.6 -0.5 31st 33.4 37.4 average 89%
Cape Bruny (Cape Bruny) 12.4 +0.3 16.9 22nd 6.8 +0.2 4.3 15th 87.0 76.4 average 114%
Cape Bruny Lighthouse 12.2 +0.9 16.4 1st 7.1 +0.9 5.0 13th 100.1 95.2 average 105%
Dennes Point 13.0   17.5 22nd 6.8   2.7 27th 39.4
Dover 12.6 +0.3 18.1 22nd 4.1 +0.6 0.2 27th 113.6 88.2 high 129%
Dunalley (Stroud Point) 13.0   17.1 25th 6.8   2.9 27th 26.4
Grove (Research Station) 12.8 +0.6 17.2 22nd 3.5 +1.6 -2.8 31st 77.8 70.7 average 110%
Hobart (Ellerslie Road) 13.5 +1.8 17.9 1st 6.0 +1.4 1.8 31st 46.6 52.3 average 89%
Hobart Airport 13.8 +1.3 17.9 1st 5.4 +1.3 0.9 27th 21.4 42.7 low 50%
kunanyi (Mount Wellington Pinnacle) 3.2 +0.8 7.5 7th -1.0 +0.6 -4.5 30th   67.5    
Maatsuyker Island Lighthouse 11.2 +0.2 15.4 6th 7.1 +0.4 4.3 13th 152.0 129.2 high 118%
Melton Mowbray (North Stockman) 12.1 +0.7 16.5 25th 3.0 +1.0 -2.2 31st 47.4 35.2 high 135%
Tasman Island 11.2 +0.3 14.8 22nd 6.5 -0.1 3.7 15th 70.6 70.3 average 100%
Tunnack Fire Station 10.4 +0.9 13.0 7th 1.9 +0.4 -3.4 27th 38.0 42.0 average 90%
Derwent Valley (district 95)
Bushy Park (Bushy Park Estates) 12.3 +1.1 18.2 1st 2.3 +0.9 -3.2 31st 77.4 50.4 high 154%
Maydena Post Office 10.5 -0.1 16.8 22nd 3.0 +0.7 -1.4 27th 242.6 124.8 v high 194%
Ouse Fire Station 11.9 +0.2 17.3 25th 2.8 +1.7 -2.9 31st 113.2 55.7 highest 203%
Central Plateau (district 96)
Butlers Gorge 7.9 +0.8 12.7 6th 1.2 +1.5 -3.9 27th 329.2 180.0 v high 183%
Lake St Clair National Park 7.2 0.0 11.0 6th 0.6 +0.7 -3.4 31st 428.8 222.2 highest 193%
Liawenee 5.6 0.0 11.1 31st -0.9 +0.7 -7.0 31st 119.8 119.7 average 100%
West Coast (district 97)
Cape Sorell 12.7 +0.9 16.4 7th 8.2 +1.1 4.8 30th 223.4 155.5 high 144%
Hartz Mountain (Keoghs Pimple) 5.6 -0.3 11.8 7th 1.3 -0.1 -1.2 30th 161.6 110.1 high 147%
Low Rocky Point 12.5   17.8 7th 7.8   5.2 5th
Mount Read 3.7 0.0 8.9 6th 0.3 +0.1 -3.4 30th
Scotts Peak Dam 8.8 -0.4 13.6 20th 3.6 +0.3 0.0 5th 379.6 217.3 v high 175%
Strahan Aerodrome 12.9 +0.7 18.2 6th 6.7 +1.5 1.2 5th 321.6 181.6 v high 177%
Warra 8.7 +0.1 13.2 22nd 3.4 +0.9 0.6 13th 313.2 198.7 high 158%
King Island (district 98)
King Island Airport 13.7 +0.4 16.6 6th 8.7 +1.1 3.5 27th 108.2 117.3 average 92%
Flinders Island (district 99)
Flinders Island Airport 13.7 +0.3 17.0 6th 7.6 +1.3 -1.3 31st 50.4 81.9 low 62%
Hogan Island 13.1 +0.2 14.7 20th 8.9 0.0 4.5 13th 79.6 76.8 average 104%
Note: From 2017, information about Macquarie Island can be found in the climate summary for the Remote Islands and Antarctica

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 Thursday 1 August 2019. 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
(03) 9669 4057
Enquiries

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