Monday, 3 February 2020 - Monthly Climate Summary for Tasmania - Product code IDCKGC17R0
Tasmania in January 2020: Hot end, warm overall, rainfall close to average
January 2020 ended with some hot weather, and although there were plenty of cool days mean temperatures for the month were above average in most areas. Rain was above average in the northwest, below average near the East Coast and in the far south, and close to average for most other areas of the State.
Rainfall close to average for most of Tasmania
- There was little rain in most areas during the first three weeks of the month, apart from the west where a cold front brought moderate falls around the 11th, and localised moderate falls from thunderstorms on the 15th and 16th
- A series of cold fronts and troughs brought moderate falls to the west and northwest from the 22nd to the 24th, with showers continuing in the west
- Rainfall totals were above average in the far northwest and on King Island, but below average near the East Coast and in the far south
- Tasmania's total rainfall for the month was about 7% below average: much wetter than the very dry January 2019
A hot end, but many cool days
- The final days of the month were very warm, peaking on the 31st when several sites had their highest temperature on record, some sites in the southeast (including Hobart) went over 40 °C, and Hobart Airport's 41.4 °C was the equal-sixth highest temperature ever recorded in Tasmania
- There were several relatively cool days during the month, especially in the west and north
- Mean maximum temperatures were above average over most of the State, especially in the southeast, but close to average in the northwest
- Mean minimum temperatures were very much above average in the eastern third, and above average in almost all areas
- Tasmania's mean temperature was much cooler than the record warm January 2019 but still 0.99 °C above average
- The State's mean maximum temperature was 1.05 °C above average, and the mean minimum temperature was 0.93 °C above average
Hobart (Ellerslie Road)
- Total rainfall for Hobart (Ellerslie Road) was 33.6 mm, which is 71% of the long-term average of 47 mm
- Almost half of Hobart's rainfall for the month fell in just three hours early on the 23rd
- The mean daily maximum temperature for Hobart (Ellerslie Road) was 24.3 °C, which is 2.6 °C above the long-term average of 21.7 °C
- The hottest day was on the 31st with 40.4 °C, the last of an unusual run of three consecutive days over 29 °C and only the ninth time Hobart has registered a temperature over 40 °C in 134 years of record
- Hobart reached 30 °C or more on six days during the month, compared to a long-term average of about two days that warm
- The coolest day was on the 17th when the temperature reached 15.6 °C
- The mean daily minimum temperature for Hobart (Ellerslie Road) was 13.8 °C, which is 1.8 °C above the long-term average of 12.0 °C
- The coldest morning was 9.0 °C on the 17th; one of only two nights below 10 °C
- The warmest morning was on the 10th when the minimum temperature was 19.8 °C; one of ten nights when the temperature did not drop below 15 °C compared to a long-term average of about four January nights that mild
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 January 2020 | |
---|---|
Hottest day | 41.4 °C at Hobart Airport on the 31st |
Warmest days on average | 25.8 °C at Cressy Research Station |
Coolest days on average | 14.6 °C at kunanyi (Mount Wellington Pinnacle) |
Coldest day | 4.5 °C at kunanyi (Mount Wellington Pinnacle) on the 17th |
Coldest night | -1.6 °C at Butlers Gorge on the 6th |
Coolest nights on average | 5.1 °C at kunanyi (Mount Wellington Pinnacle) |
Warmest nights on average | 15.0 °C at Swan Island |
Warmest night | 20.2 °C at Hogan Island on the 31st |
Warmest on average overall | 19.2 °C at Campania (Kincora) |
Coolest on average overall | 9.8 °C at kunanyi (Mount Wellington Pinnacle) |
Wettest overall | 225.0 mm at Mount Read |
Wettest day | 51.4 mm at Lake Margaret Dam on the 23rd |
Strongest wind gust |
131 km/h at Maatsuyker Island Lighthouse on the 11th |
Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top
Maps | |||
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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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Record highest January temperature | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
New record (°C) |
Old record |
Years of record |
Average for January |
|||
Maatsuyker Island Lighthouse | 34.1 | on the 31st | 33.3 | on the 16th in 1962 | 64 | 17.1 |
Hobart Airport | 41.4 | on the 31st | 40.3 | on the 4th in 2013 | 62 | 22.7 |
kunanyi (Mount Wellington Pinnacle) | 29.8 | on the 31st | = 29.8 | on the 14th in 2014 | 40 | 13.6 |
Strahan Aerodrome | 38.2 | on the 31st | 38.0 | on the 14th in 2014 | 30 | 20.9 |
Maydena Post Office | 38.2 | on the 31st | 37.3 | on the 4th in 2013 | 28 | 22.3 |
Hartz Mountain (Keoghs Pimple) | 35.2 | on the 31st | 34.9 | on the 14th in 2014 | 24 | 17.7 |
Cape Bruny (Cape Bruny) | 39.3 | on the 31st | 38.0 | on the 4th in 2013 | 23 | 20.0 |
The values for Hobart Airport, Maydena and Hartz Mountain are records for any time of year, whilst kunanyi / Mount Wellington equalled its annual record.
Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top
Summary statistics for January 2020 | ||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Maximum temperatures (°C) |
Minimum temperatures (°C) |
Rainfall (millimetres) |
||||||||||
Mean for January 2020 |
Diff from average |
Highest for January 2020 |
Mean for January 2020 |
Diff from average |
Lowest for January 2020 |
Total for January 2020 |
Average for January |
Rank of January 2020 |
Fraction of January average |
|||
Northern (district 91) | ||||||||||||
Cape Grim | 19.5 | 26.8 | 30th | 13.1 | 9.2 | 22nd | 65.4 | 41.9 | high | 156% | ||
Cape Grim BAPS (Comparison) | 19.2 | +0.1 | 27.3 | 30th | 13.1 | -0.1 | 9.6 | 6th | 65.2 | 36.7 | high | 178% |
Cressy Research Station | 25.8 | +0.4 | 36.1 | 31st | 10.8 | +0.4 | 4.8 | 17th | 35.8 | 36.6 | average | 98% |
Devonport Airport | 21.9 | +0.3 | 29.8 | 31st | 13.1 | +0.7 | 7.9 | 1st | 31.8 | 42.6 | average | 75% |
Launceston (Ti Tree Bend) | 25.3 | +0.8 | 35.9 | 31st | 13.0 | +0.6 | 8.1 | 18th | 42.4 | 45.8 | average | 93% |
Launceston Airport | 25.3 | 0.0 | 37.1 | 31st | 11.2 | +0.3 | 5.6 | 1st | 32.6 | 32.6 | average | 100% |
Low Head | 20.2 | -0.4 | 25.7 | 31st | 14.6 | +0.2 | 9.7 | 18th | 37.0 | 48.8 | average | 76% |
Luncheon Hill (Forestry) | 20.5 | -0.9 | 31.8 | 30th | 10.8 | +0.2 | 7.2 | 17th | 84.2 | 72.6 | average | 116% |
Marrawah | 20.3 | +0.1 | 29.0 | 30th | 12.1 | +0.1 | 6.0 | 24th | 48.2 | 47.2 | average | 102% |
Scottsdale (West Minstone Road) | 23.6 | +0.6 | 36.6 | 31st | 11.6 | +0.7 | 5.3 | 1st | 57.4 | 56.1 | average | 102% |
Sheffield School Farm | 22.5 | +0.2 | 31.6 | 31st | 10.8 | 0.0 | 5.6 | 1st | ||||
Smithton Aerodrome | 21.7 | -0.1 | 28.1 | 31st | 11.1 | 0.0 | 3.4 | 22nd | 49.4 | 39.3 | high | 126% |
Wynyard Airport | 22.0 | +0.3 | 27.6 | 31st | 11.9 | +0.7 | 5.4 | 1st | 58.4 | 43.0 | high | 136% |
East Coast (district 92) | ||||||||||||
Bicheno (Council Depot) | 22.6 | +1.0 | 37.0 | 30th | 14.2 | +1.2 | 9.9 | 12th | 32.5 | 53.7 | average | 61% |
Fingal (Legge Street) | 24.8 | +1.0 | 38.4 | 31st | 11.7 | +1.3 | 5.0 | 1st | 22.6 | 44.3 | average | 51% |
Friendly Beaches | 24.4 | +1.0 | 38.5 | 30th | 13.8 | +0.5 | 9.7 | 1st | 29.6 | 62.8 | average | 47% |
Lake Leake (Elizabeth River) | 21.3 | +1.6 | 35.0 | 31st | 9.4 | +0.9 | 3.7 | 17th | 38.7 | 54.0 | average | 72% |
larapuna (Eddystone Point) | 22.4 | +1.6 | 33.7 | 30th | 14.3 | +1.0 | 9.2 | 12th | 16.0 | 45.1 | low | 35% |
Maria Island (Point Lesueur) | 22.0 | +0.3 | 32.2 | 30th | 14.2 | +0.3 | 11.3 | 18th | 20.2 | 45.5 | low | 44% |
Orford (Aubin Court) | 23.7 | +1.5 | 37.5 | 30th | 13.1 | +1.1 | 8.5 | 1st | 30.4 | 51.5 | average | 59% |
St Helens Aerodrome | 23.2 | +0.2 | 36.1 | 30th | 14.0 | +0.6 | 9.5 | 12th | 17.4 | 58.9 | low | 30% |
Swan Island | 20.6 | -0.4 | 25.7 | 22nd | 15.0 | 0.0 | 11.8 | 12th | 24.8 | 42.8 | average | 58% |
Swansea (Francis Street) | 24.3 | 38.1 | 30th | 13.5 | 8.0 | 1st | 15.7 | |||||
Midlands (district 93) | ||||||||||||
Ross (The Boulevards) | 25.5 | +0.7 | 37.6 | 31st | 11.4 | +0.7 | 4.4 | 17th | 34.0 | 43.9 | average | 77% |
Southeast (district 94) | ||||||||||||
Campania (Kincora) | 25.6 | +1.0 | 40.7 | 31st | 12.8 | +1.2 | 6.7 | 6th | 39.6 | 38.5 | average | 103% |
Cape Bruny (Cape Bruny) | 21.2 | +1.2 | 39.3 | 31st | 12.0 | -0.2 | 7.9 | 18th | 49.8 | 42.0 | average | 119% |
Cape Bruny Lighthouse | 20.3 | +1.9 | 36.9 | 31st | 12.3 | +0.8 | 8.1 | 5th | 46.6 | 60.9 | average | 77% |
Dennes Point | 22.7 | 37.4 | 31st | 13.5 | 9.2 | 17th | 30.8 | |||||
Dover | 22.9 | +1.9 | 39.0 | 31st | 11.1 | +0.7 | 5.0 | 17th | 33.0 | 52.6 | average | 63% |
Dunalley (Stroud Point) | 23.2 | 37.2 | 31st | 14.1 | 9.3 | 18th | 44.8 | |||||
Grove (Research Station) | 39.5 | 31st | 10.5 | +0.6 | 2.5 | 6th | 47.6 | 42.5 | average | 112% | ||
Hobart (Ellerslie Road) | 24.3 | +2.6 | 40.4 | 31st | 13.8 | +1.8 | 9.0 | 17th | 33.6 | 47.0 | average | 71% |
Hobart Airport | 24.9 | +2.2 | 41.4 | 31st | 13.3 | +1.1 | 9.4 | 6th | 22.8 | 39.7 | average | 57% |
kunanyi (Mount Wellington Pinnacle) | 14.6 | +1.0 | 29.8 | 31st | 5.1 | +0.3 | -0.8 | 17th | 48.8 | 87.2 | average | 56% |
Maatsuyker Island Lighthouse | 17.4 | +0.3 | 34.1 | 31st | 11.2 | +0.4 | 8.7 | 11th | 72.8 | 78.2 | average | 93% |
Melton Mowbray (North Stockman) | 24.6 | +0.5 | 39.2 | 31st | 11.2 | +0.7 | 3.5 | 17th | 49.6 | 31.8 | high | 156% |
Tasman Island | 19.0 | +0.7 | 32.9 | 31st | 11.7 | +0.1 | 8.3 | 18th | 47.2 | 64.7 | average | 73% |
Tunnack Fire Station | 22.8 | +0.8 | 35.2 | 31st | 9.7 | +0.7 | 2.8 | 6th | 28.8 | 42.1 | low | 68% |
Derwent Valley (district 95) | ||||||||||||
Bushy Park (Bushy Park Estates) | 25.6 | +1.6 | 38.7 | 31st | 10.8 | +0.7 | 3.3 | 6th | 50.2 | 40.6 | high | 124% |
Maydena Post Office | 22.7 | +0.4 | 38.2 | 31st | 8.2 | -0.9 | 1.0 | 6th | 59.6 | 58.9 | average | 101% |
Ouse Fire Station | 25.7 | +0.1 | 40.6 | 31st | 9.9 | -0.4 | 2.2 | 6th | 50.2 | 26.2 | high | 192% |
Central Plateau (district 96) | ||||||||||||
Butlers Gorge | 19.5 | +0.5 | 33.7 | 31st | 6.6 | +0.2 | -1.6 | 6th | 103.0 | 94.5 | average | 109% |
Liawenee | 19.0 | -0.1 | 29.6 | 30th | 5.4 | -0.1 | -1.4 | 17th | 72.2 | 50.2 | high | 144% |
West Coast (district 97) | ||||||||||||
Cape Sorell | 19.5 | +1.1 | 27.1 | 31st | 12.7 | +0.8 | 9.1 | 6th | 67.8 | 68.0 | average | 100% |
Hartz Mountain (Keoghs Pimple) | 18.2 | +0.5 | 35.2 | 31st | 6.9 | -0.3 | 1.7 | 17th | 44.2 | 63.1 | average | 70% |
Low Rocky Point | 19.4 | 36.8 | 31st | 11.7 | 6.8 | 17th | ||||||
Scotts Peak Dam | 21.9 | +0.9 | 38.3 | 31st | 9.5 | +0.1 | 4.9 | 17th | 75.0 | 97.9 | low | 77% |
Strahan Aerodrome | 21.4 | +0.5 | 38.2 | 31st | 10.8 | -0.1 | 5.0 | 6th | 96.6 | 82.9 | high | 117% |
Warra | 20.3 | +0.7 | 37.4 | 31st | 8.7 | +0.3 | 2.1 | 17th | 66.8 | 97.3 | average | 69% |
King Island (district 98) | ||||||||||||
King Island Airport | 21.4 | +0.4 | 30.9 | 31st | 12.2 | -0.4 | 5.7 | 6th | 54.6 | 38.6 | high | 141% |
Flinders Island (district 99) | ||||||||||||
Flinders Island Airport | 22.8 | +0.6 | 38.5 | 31st | 14.2 | +0.7 | 8.0 | 22nd | 42.8 | 45.6 | average | 94% |
Hogan Island | 21.0 | -0.9 | 33.0 | 30th | 14.2 | -0.7 | 10.8 | 5th | 62.0 | 38.1 | high | 163% |
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 3 February 2020. 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