Tuesday, 1 September 2020 - Monthly Climate Summary for Tasmania - Product code IDCKGC17R0
Tasmania in August 2020: wetter than average in the Southeast but drier in most other parts
August was drier than usual away from the Southeast district. Both daytime and overnight temperatures were mostly close to average for the month, however there were some very cold mornings mixed with some milder mornings.
Mixed rainfall
- Tasmania's August rainfall was around 15% below average and it was the driest August since 2014.
- Rainfall totals were mixed, with parts of the Southeast district in the wettest 10% of records, while parts of the Central Highlands were in the driest 10%.
- A slow-moving high-pressure system near Tasmania kept skies clear and meant there wasn't much rain around from the 7th to the 12th.
- Numerous sites had their highest August daily rainfall on record on the 5th, and for some younger stations it was their wettest August on record.
- Hobart Airport had its highest total August rainfall since 1984.
A new record low daily temperature
- Numerous sites had their lowest August temperature on record including Liawenee with -14.2 °C on 7 August, setting a new low temperature record for Tasmania.
- Launceston woke to a few centimeters of snow on 5 August, a rare sight and likely the most significant snowfall there since 1921.
- Minimum temperatures were more than 6 °C cooler than average for parts of central Tasmania on the 10th and 11th, in contrast they were more than 6 °C warmer than average for parts of the east on the 16th and 17th.
- For August overall, maximum and minimum temperatures were close to average for most parts.
- The mean maximum temperature was 0.27 °C warmer than average, the warmest since 2016.
- The mean minimum temperature was 0.16 °C warmer than average, the warmest since 2013.
Hobart (Ellerslie Road)
- Total rainfall for Hobart (Ellerslie Road) was 103.8 mm, which is 192% of the long-term average of 54.2 mm.
- The mean daily maximum temperature for Hobart (Ellerslie Road) was 13.6 °C, which is 0.5 °C above the long-term average of 13.1 °C.
- The warmest day was 21.6 °C on the 30th, and the coolest day was on the 5th when the temperature reached 8.8 °C.
- The mean daily minimum temperature for Hobart (Ellerslie Road) was 5.5 °C, which is 0.3 °C above the long-term average of 5.2 °C.
- The coldest morning was 0.4 °C on the 10th, and the warmest morning was on the 29th when the minimum temperature was 11.8 °C
Further information
- Media
- media@bom.gov.au (03) 9669 4057
Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top
| Extremes in August 2020 | |
|---|---|
| Hottest day |
22.9 °C at Friendly Beaches on the 30th |
| Warmest days on average |
14.4 °C at Bicheno (Council Depot) 14.4 °C at larapuna (Eddystone Point) |
| Coolest days on average |
2.6 °C at kunanyi (Mount Wellington Pinnacle) |
| Coldest day |
-1.9 °C at kunanyi (Mount Wellington Pinnacle) on the 3rd |
| Coldest night |
-14.2 °C at Liawenee on the 7th |
| Coolest nights on average |
-2.5 °C at Liawenee |
| Warmest nights on average |
8.3 °C at Hogan Island 8.3 °C at Swan Island |
| Warmest night |
12.7 °C at larapuna (Eddystone Point) on the 15th |
| Warmest on average overall |
10.9 °C at larapuna (Eddystone Point) |
| Coolest on average overall |
0.5 °C at kunanyi (Mount Wellington Pinnacle) |
| Wettest overall |
309.9 mm at Lake Margaret Power Station |
| Wettest day |
82.8 mm at Gray (Dalmayne Rd) on the 14th |
| Strongest wind gust |
156 km/h at Hogan Island on the 27th |
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 August daily rainfall | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
New record (mm) |
Old record |
Years of record |
||||
| Woodbury (Warringa Old Tier Road) | 73.0 | on the 5th | 32.2 | on the 2nd in 1976 | 44 | |
| Richmond (Strathayr) | 52.6 | on the 5th | 46.4 | on the 12th in 2010 | 33 | |
| Ross (Macquarie River) | 67.8 | on the 5th | 67.2 | on the 31st in 2005 | 26 | |
| Mount Morriston (Macquarie River) | 78.4 | on the 5th | 48.2 | on the 31st in 2005 | 25 | |
| Tunnack Fire Station | 79.2 | on the 5th | 65.4 | on the 12th in 2010 | 24 | |
| Birralee Creek | 47.6 | on the 5th | 42.2 | on the 25th in 2000 | 22 | |
| Below Craigbourne Dam (Coal River) | 66.8 | on the 5th | 28.2 | on the 13th in 2009 | 21 | |
| Record highest August total rainfall | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
New record (mm) |
Old record |
Years of record |
Average for August |
||
| Richmond (Strathayr) | 102.0 | 91.4 | in 2010 | 33 | 52.5 |
| Mount Morriston (Macquarie River) | 124.2 | 111.6 | in 2009 | 24 | 40.7 |
| Tunnack Fire Station | 157.6 | 123.4 | in 2009 | 23 | 62.3 |
| Mount Seymour | 107.0 | 99.4 | in 2003 | 22 | 49.2 |
| Friendly Beaches | 144.2 | 114.4 | in 2010 | 21 | 55.5 |
| Tea Tree Point | 116.6 | 113.8 | in 2009 | 20 | 54.1 |
| Highest August total rainfall for at least 20 years | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Observed (mm) |
Most recent higher |
Average for August |
|||
| Hobart Airport | 91.0 | 99.0 | in 1984 | 47.3 | |
| Wattle Hill | 134.2 | 150.8 | in 1984 | 57.1 | |
| Orford (Aubin Court) | 165.6 | 170.6 | in 1984* | 62.3 | |
| Seven Mile Beach (Royal Hobart Golf Club | 109.8 | 119.0 | in 1984* | 49.3 | |
| Eaglehawk Neck (Jetty Road) | 168.4 | 220.4 | in 1994 | 84.7 | |
* note: there are gaps in the historical record at this site, so it is possible a higher value has gone unreported
| Record lowest August temperature | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
New record (°C) |
Old record |
Years of record |
Average for August |
|||
| Cape Grim BAPS (Comparison) | 1.6 | on the 4th | 2.0 | on the 16th in 1998 | 28 | 8.1 |
| Maydena Post Office | -3.8 | on the 7th | = -3.8 | on the 17th in 1998 | 28 | 2.5 |
| Strahan Aerodrome | -2.8 | on the 7th | -2.5 | on the 29th in 2018 | 28 | 5.7 |
| Cape Sorell | 1.6 | on the 4th | 1.7 | on the 7th in 1960 | 24 | 7.3 |
| Hartz Mountain (Keoghs Pimple) | -4.4 | on the 4th | = -4.4 | on the 11th in 2005 | 24 | 1.2 |
| Smithton Aerodrome | -3.2 | on the 10th | -3.1 | on the 29th in 2018 | 24 | 5.1 |
| Mount Read | -5.5 | on the 4th | -5.3 | on the 28th in 2018 | 23 | -0.1 |
| Liawenee | -14.2 | on the 7th | -11.1 | on the 8th in 2015 | 20 | -1.4 |
Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top
| Summary statistics for August 2020 | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maximum temperatures (°C) |
Minimum temperatures (°C) |
Rainfall (millimetres) |
||||||||||
| Mean for August 2020 |
Diff from average |
Highest for August 2020 |
Mean for August 2020 |
Diff from average |
Lowest for August 2020 |
Total for August 2020 |
Average for August |
Rank of August 2020 |
Fraction of August average |
|||
| Northern (district 91) | ||||||||||||
| Cape Grim | 12.1 | 14.9 | 13th | 7.3 | 1.5 | 4th | 87.2 | 125.2 | low | 70% | ||
| Cape Grim BAPS (Comparison) | 12.3 | -0.4 | 15.2 | 30th | 7.3 | -0.8 | 1.6 | 4th | 94.8 | 100.6 | average | 94% |
| Cressy Research Station | 12.6 | -0.3 | 17.1 | 17th | 2.8 | +0.5 | -3.4 | 10th | 51.0 | 63.1 | average | 81% |
| Devonport Airport | 13.5 | +0.4 | 17.7 | 16th | 4.5 | -0.4 | -0.8 | 6th | 45.0 | 88.8 | low | 51% |
| Launceston (Ti Tree Bend) | 13.9 | +0.1 | 19.0 | 17th | 3.7 | +0.2 | -2.3 | 10th | 90.0 | 84.1 | average | 107% |
| Launceston Airport | 12.6 | -0.3 | 16.5 | 17th | 2.9 | +0.2 | -3.4 | 10th | 94.8 | 75.8 | high | 125% |
| Low Head | 12.9 | -0.1 | 16.1 | 16th | 6.8 | -0.3 | 1.5 | 6th | 63.6 | 77.3 | average | 82% |
| Luncheon Hill (Forestry) | 11.5 | +0.4 | 15.7 | 16th | 4.5 | -0.3 | -1.1 | 4th | 114.8 | 205.9 | v low | 56% |
| Marrawah | 13.0 | +0.3 | 15.8 | 15th | 6.9 | -0.1 | 1.4 | 4th | 134.2 | 134.4 | average | 100% |
| Scottsdale (West Minstone Road) | 12.5 | 0.0 | 15.6 | 15th | 4.0 | +0.2 | -0.4 | 25th | 29.6 | 116.5 | v low | 25% |
| Sheffield School Farm | 11.4 | -0.1 | 15.8 | 16th | 3.2 | -0.4 | -1.9 | 22nd | 74.2 | 125.8 | low | 59% |
| Smithton Aerodrome | 13.9 | +0.3 | 17.7 | 16th | 4.4 | -0.7 | -3.2 | 10th | 100.2 | 123.4 | average | 81% |
| Wynyard Airport | 13.7 | +0.5 | 18.5 | 16th | 3.6 | -0.3 | -2.0 | 7th | 89.0 | 116.0 | average | 77% |
| East Coast (district 92) | ||||||||||||
| Bicheno (Council Depot) | 14.4 | -0.3 | 22.5 | 30th | 6.9 | +0.6 | 2.8 | 7th | 15.2 | 49.5 | low | 31% |
| Fingal (Legge Street) | 12.9 | -0.4 | 18.5 | 30th | 2.6 | +1.4 | -3.2 | 11th | 109.6 | 59.7 | high | 184% |
| Friendly Beaches | 14.0 | -0.6 | 22.9 | 30th | 5.8 | -0.2 | 0.5 | 11th | 144.2 | 55.5 | highest | 260% |
| Lake Leake (Elizabeth River) | 9.0 | -0.4 | 13.5 | 30th | 1.5 | +1.0 | -5.1 | 7th | 119.6 | 78.2 | high | 153% |
| larapuna (Eddystone Point) | 14.4 | +0.9 | 18.8 | 30th | 7.4 | +0.5 | 2.9 | 5th | 40.0 | 70.1 | low | 57% |
| Maria Island (Point Lesueur) | 12.6 | -0.8 | 17.8 | 30th | 7.4 | 0.0 | 2.5 | 5th | 111.6 | 44.1 | v high | 253% |
| Orford (Aubin Court) | 13.4 | -0.6 | 19.6 | 30th | 5.0 | +0.8 | 0.8 | 5th | 165.6 | 62.3 | v high | 266% |
| St Helens Aerodrome | 14.2 | 0.0 | 19.5 | 30th | 5.7 | +0.6 | 0.3 | 7th | 18.0 | 54.4 | v low | 33% |
| Swan Island | 13.3 | -0.2 | 15.8 | 30th | 8.3 | 0.0 | 3.1 | 5th | 0 | 56.5 | v low | 0% |
| Swansea (Francis Street) | 13.7 | 19.8 | 30th | 5.2 | -0.9 | 11th | 125.6 | |||||
| Midlands (district 93) | ||||||||||||
| Ross (The Boulevards) | 12.3 | -0.2 | 16.0 | 28th | 2.4 | +0.4 | -3.8 | 7th | 87.2 | 46.7 | high | 187% |
| Southeast (district 94) | ||||||||||||
| Campania (Kincora) | 13.5 | -0.6 | 21.1 | 30th | 4.0 | +0.1 | -1.2 | 7th | 89.2 | 52.7 | v high | 169% |
| Cape Bruny (Cape Bruny) | 12.6 | -0.2 | 19.7 | 30th | 6.5 | 0.0 | 3.0 | 4th | 106.8 | 89.9 | high | 119% |
| Cape Bruny Lighthouse | 12.1 | +0.2 | 19.5 | 30th | 6.6 | +0.3 | 1.7 | 31st | 90.3 | 92.9 | average | 97% |
| Dennes Point | 12.9 | 20.6 | 30th | 5.8 | 1.3 | 4th | 92.8 | |||||
| Dover | 12.5 | -0.6 | 20.2 | 30th | 3.5 | -0.4 | -1.5 | 10th | 130.4 | 91.9 | high | 142% |
| Dunalley (Stroud Point) | 12.6 | 21.5 | 30th | 6.3 | 1.3 | 5th | 98.8 | |||||
| Grove (Research Station) | 12.9 | -0.4 | 20.0 | 30th | 3.1 | +0.5 | -4.0 | 10th | 114.2 | 88.3 | high | 129% |
| Hobart (Ellerslie Road) | 13.6 | +0.5 | 21.6 | 30th | 5.5 | +0.3 | 0.4 | 10th | 103.8 | 54.2 | v high | 192% |
| Hobart Airport | 13.3 | -0.2 | 20.8 | 30th | 5.0 | +0.3 | 0.3 | 10th | 91.0 | 47.3 | v high | 192% |
| kunanyi (Mount Wellington Pinnacle) | 2.6 | -0.2 | 7.9 | 10th | -1.6 | +0.1 | -7.2 | 4th | 152.2 | 82.8 | high | 184% |
| Maatsuyker Island Lighthouse | 10.9 | -0.3 | 16.5 | 29th | 6.7 | +0.2 | 1.9 | 4th | 108.2 | 123.5 | average | 88% |
| Melton Mowbray (North Stockman) | 12.1 | -0.4 | 18.3 | 30th | 2.4 | -0.1 | -4.0 | 9th | 81.2 | 50.8 | high | 160% |
| Tasman Island | 11.1 | -0.2 | 18.6 | 30th | 6.4 | 0.0 | 2.1 | 5th | 138.8 | 80.9 | v high | 172% |
| Tunnack Fire Station | 10.1 | -0.4 | 15.4 | 29th | 2.0 | +0.2 | -4.2 | 9th | 157.6 | 62.3 | highest | 253% |
| Derwent Valley (district 95) | ||||||||||||
| Bushy Park (Bushy Park Estates) | 13.5 | +0.3 | 20.3 | 30th | 1.9 | -0.4 | -4.1 | 10th | 50.4 | 54.3 | average | 93% |
| Maydena Post Office | 12.0 | +0.2 | 17.8 | 30th | 2.1 | -0.4 | -3.8 | 7th | 132.7 | 151.3 | average | 88% |
| Ouse Fire Station | 12.9 | -0.6 | 19.5 | 30th | 1.3 | -0.6 | -6.3 | 11th | 56.8 | 63.2 | average | 90% |
| Central Plateau (district 96) | ||||||||||||
| Butlers Gorge | 8.6 | +0.6 | 13.9 | 10th | 0.0 | 0.0 | -7.8 | 10th | 138.0 | 185.2 | average | 75% |
| Liawenee | 6.3 | -0.2 | 12.7 | 29th | -2.5 | -1.1 | -14.2 | 7th | 56.6 | 125.0 | low | 45% |
| West Coast (district 97) | ||||||||||||
| Cape Sorell | 12.9 | +0.7 | 17.1 | 14th | 6.9 | -0.4 | 1.6 | 4th | 98.0 | 147.8 | low | 66% |
| Hartz Mountain (Keoghs Pimple) | 6.9 | +0.4 | 12.9 | 10th | 1.5 | +0.3 | -4.4 | 4th | 163.8 | 124.2 | high | 132% |
| Low Rocky Point | 12.3 | 17.2 | 14th | 6.5 | 0.2 | 4th | ||||||
| Mount Read | 3.6 | -0.3 | 8.9 | 10th | -0.3 | -0.2 | -5.5 | 4th | ||||
| Scotts Peak Dam | 10.4 | +0.1 | 15.0 | 1st | 3.1 | -0.3 | -1.6 | 4th | 201.2 | 227.0 | average | 89% |
| Strahan Aerodrome | 12.9 | -0.1 | 19.2 | 14th | 4.6 | -1.1 | -2.8 | 7th | 124.0 | 179.4 | low | 69% |
| Strathgordon Village | 9.5 | -0.6 | 15.8 | 29th | 2.9 | -0.7 | -1.8 | 5th | 233.2 | 292.1 | average | 80% |
| Warra | 9.3 | -0.1 | 15.1 | 29th | 2.7 | +0.3 | -3.1 | 4th | 186.0 | 236.9 | low | 79% |
| King Island (district 98) | ||||||||||||
| King Island Airport | 13.8 | +0.2 | 16.9 | 29th | 7.6 | -0.1 | 2.7 | 7th | 81.4 | 114.6 | low | 71% |
| Flinders Island (district 99) | ||||||||||||
| Flinders Island Airport | 13.8 | 0.0 | 20.9 | 30th | 6.9 | +0.3 | -0.9 | 7th | 76.0 | 75.5 | average | 101% |
| Hogan Island | 13.1 | -0.1 | 17.2 | 30th | 8.3 | -0.4 | 3.0 | 5th | 86.8 | 74.2 | average | 117% |
| 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 12 pm on Tuesday 1 September 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
Unless otherwise noted, all maps, graphs and diagrams in this page are licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International Licence
