Friday, 1 May 2020 - Monthly Climate Summary for Tasmania - Product code IDCKGC17R0

Tasmania in April 2020: very wet, with cool days

Tasmania had its wettest April since 1960 and rainfall totals were above average across the State. Cloudy skies resulted in daytime temperatures that were generally cooler than average, making it the State's lowest mean maximum temperature for April since 2006. Night-time temperatures though were warmer than average throughout the State, with Tasmania's mean minimum temperature equal seventh-highest on record for April.

Wettest April since 1960

• Most of the State had above to very much above average rainfall in April
• In all, Tasmania had its ninth-wettest April on record, and the wettest April since 1960
• Statewide, April rainfall was 68% above average
• Southwest and northeast regions of the State had rainfall totals more than 100 mm above average
• Heavy rainfall in eastern Tasmania on the 3rd saw several sites have their highest April daily rainfall on record
• Instances of snow falls across the State during April included snow down to around 600m elevation in the morning of the 5th and snow settling on kunanyi (Mount Wellington) in the morning of the 17th
• Many sites, including Launceston, had either their highest total April rainfall on record or their highest total April rainfall for at least 20 years
• The wettest site was Mount Read, with 527.4 mm for the month

Cool days, some warm nights

• Daytime temperatures were generally cooler than average during April
• Mean maximum temperatures for April were cooler than average across the State and Butlers Gorge had its lowest April mean daily maximum temperature since 1977
• The mean maximum temperature for Tasmania as a whole was 1.45 °C below average, which was the lowest since 2006
• Mean minimum temperatures were generally above to very much above average across the State thanks to several very warm nights—there were quite a few cooler than average nights though
• The mean minimum temperature for Tasmania was 1.06 °C above average, which was the State's equal seventh-highest on record for April, and warmest since 2012
• The cool days and warm nights reflected the generally cloudy conditions across the State, with solar radiation for April less than average, particularly across the south
• The State's overall mean temperature was 0.19 °C below average for April
• Several sites had either their highest April mean daily minimum temperature on record or their highest April mean daily minimum temperature for at least 20 years
• Despite the cool days in April, the year-to-date average temperatures remain warmer than average in most areas of the State

Hobart (Ellerslie Road)

• Hobart (Ellerslie Road) had its wettest April since 2011
• Total rainfall for Hobart (Ellerslie Road) was 78.0 mm, which is 155% of the long-term average of 50.2 mm
• The mean daily maximum temperature for Hobart (Ellerslie Road) was 17.3 °C, which is 0.1 °C below the long-term average of 17.4 °C
• The warmest day was 22.1 °C on the 3rd, and the coolest day was on the 19th when the temperature reached 13.0 °C
• The mean daily minimum temperature for Hobart (Ellerslie Road) was 10.4 °C, which is 1.4 °C above the long-term average of 9.0 °C
• The coldest morning was 5.2 °C on the 9th, and the warmest morning was on the 26th when the minimum temperature was 14.5 °C

Strong winds at times

• Winds were stronger than average at most locations, particularly across the central highlands
• Wind run for April was the highest for at least ten years at many sites, including kunanyi (Mount Wellington Pinnacle), Launceston Airport, Devonport Airport, Butlers Gorge, Strahan Aerodrome, and Maatsuyker Island Lighthouse
• The strongest gust was 146 km/h at Hogan Island on the 5th

Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top

Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top

Maps
	Observed	Anomaly	Decile rank
Total rainfall
Mean daily maximum temperatures
Mean daily minimum temperatures

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

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

* 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

Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top