Thursday, 1 April 2021 - Monthly Climate Summary for Tasmania - Product code IDCKGC17R0
Tasmania in March 2021: wet along the east coast
March 2021 was wetter than average along the east coast while elsewhere rainfall totals were mostly close to average. Heavy rainfall triggered flash flooding in the east and major riverine flooding in parts of the upper South Esk River catchment in the north-east later in the month. Daytime temperatures were close to average for March overall, while nights were warmer than average across most of the state.
Flash flooding in the east
- March rainfall was 19% above average for the state overall, but lower than March 2020.
- Year to date rainfall is above average over most of the north and east.
- Parts of the central east coast had monthly totals in the wettest 10% of years.
- Heavy rainfall from a low pressure system led to some sites having their highest March daily rainfall on record on the 25th and was accompanied by strong winds.
- Orford (Aubin Court) had their highest March daily rainfall on record and also their highest total March rainfall on record, while Lake Leake (Elizabeth River) had their highest total March rainfall since 1979.
Warmer than average nights for most
- Averaged across the state, the mean maximum temperature was 0.19 °C higher than average.
- Averaged across the state, the mean minimum temperature was 0.25 °C higher than average.
- Daytime temperatures were warmer than average for March overall for a small area of the south but elsewhere they were close to average.
- Nights were warmer than average across most of the state, and close to average for an area of central and western Tasmania.
- Northern parts of the east coast had mean minimum temperatures in the warmest 10% of years and a couple of sites in the East Coast district had their highest March mean daily minimum temperature on record.
Hobart (Ellerslie Road)
- Total rainfall for Hobart (Ellerslie Road) was 59.6 mm, which is 133% of the long-term average of 44.7 mm.
- The mean daily maximum temperature for Hobart (Ellerslie Road) was 21.2 °C, which is 1.0 °C above the long-term average of 20.2 °C.
- The warmest day was 29.1 °C on the 12th, and the coolest day was on the 2nd when the temperature reached 16.3 °C.
- The mean daily minimum temperature for Hobart (Ellerslie Road) was 11.8 °C, which is 0.9 °C above the long-term average of 10.9 °C.
- The coldest morning was 7.7 °C on the 14th, and the warmest morning was on the 13th when the minimum temperature was 16.4 °C.
Further information
- Media
- media@bom.gov.au (03) 9669 4057
Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top
| Extremes in March 2021 | |
|---|---|
| Hottest day |
30.6 °C at Campania (Kincora) on the 12th |
| Warmest days on average |
22.8 °C at Cressy Research Station |
| Coolest days on average |
11.0 °C at kunanyi (Mount Wellington Pinnacle) |
| Coldest day |
3.0 °C at kunanyi (Mount Wellington Pinnacle) on the 2nd |
| Coldest night |
-1.6 °C at kunanyi (Mount Wellington Pinnacle) on the 14th |
| Coolest nights on average |
3.6 °C at kunanyi (Mount Wellington Pinnacle) |
| Warmest nights on average |
14.5 °C at Bicheno (Council Depot) |
| Warmest night |
18.9 °C at Flinders Island Airport on the 13th |
| Warmest on average overall |
17.4 °C at Bicheno (Council Depot) 17.4 °C at larapuna (Eddystone Point) 17.4 °C at Swan Island |
| Coolest on average overall |
7.3 °C at kunanyi (Mount Wellington Pinnacle) |
| Wettest overall |
365.1 mm at Lake Margaret Dam |
| Wettest day |
275.4 mm at Gray (Dalmayne Rd) on the 25th |
| Strongest wind gust |
124 km/h at kunanyi (Mount Wellington Pinnacle) on the 4th |
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 March daily rainfall | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
New record (mm) |
Old record |
Years of record |
||||
| Orford (Aubin Court) | 120.2 | on the 25th | 91.1 | on the 23rd in 1983 | 69 | |
| kunanyi (Mount Wellington Pinnacle) | 91.0 | on the 25th | 78.0 | on the 28th in 1997 | 41 | |
| Hartz Mountain (Keoghs Pimple) | 57.2 | on the 25th | 36.0 | on the 17th in 1996 | 26 | |
| Friendly Beaches | 105.2 | on the 25th | 85.4 | on the 24th in 2011 | 25 | |
| Scotts Peak Dam | 50.2 | on the 2nd | 43.2 | on the 19th in 2018 | 23 | |
| Mount Dromedary | 39.4 | on the 25th | 31.6 | on the 18th in 2001 | 22 | |
| Record highest March total rainfall | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
New record (mm) |
Old record |
Years of record |
Average for March |
||
| Orford (Aubin Court) | 152.4 | 144.0 | in 2011 | 68 | 46.9 |
| Whitemark Post Office | 145.4 | 143.9 | in 1970 | 57 | 51.2 |
| Highest March total rainfall for at least 20 years | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Observed (mm) |
Most recent higher |
Average for March |
|||
| Lake Leake (Elizabeth River) | 152.4 | 272.6 | in 1979 | 62.5 | |
| Record highest March mean daily minimum temperature | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
New record (°C) |
Old record |
Years of record |
Average for March |
||
| Bicheno (Council Depot) | 14.5 | 13.9 | in 2017 | 46 | 12.2 |
| Fingal (Legge Street) | 10.0 | 9.9 | in 2016 | 34 | 8.1 |
Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top
| Summary statistics for March 2021 | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maximum temperatures (°C) |
Minimum temperatures (°C) |
Rainfall (millimetres) |
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| Mean for March 2021 |
Diff from average |
Highest for March 2021 |
Mean for March 2021 |
Diff from average |
Lowest for March 2021 |
Total for March 2021 |
Average for March |
Rank of March 2021 |
Fraction of March average |
|||
| Northern (district 91) | ||||||||||||
| Cape Grim | 18.3 | -0.6 | 21.8 | 12th | 13.3 | +0.1 | 9.4 | 7th | 71.4 | 66.5 | high | 107% |
| Cape Grim BAPS (Comparison) | 18.4 | -0.3 | 21.4 | 12th | 13.2 | +0.2 | 9.8 | 6th | 70.2 | 49.6 | high | 142% |
| Cressy Research Station | 22.8 | +0.3 | 29.9 | 11th | 8.6 | +0.2 | 2.3 | 10th | 29.8 | 46.0 | average | 65% |
| Devonport Airport | 20.9 | +0.4 | 24.9 | 15th | 11.3 | +0.3 | 3.7 | 14th | 47.0 | 48.7 | average | 97% |
| Launceston (Ti Tree Bend) | 22.6 | 0.0 | 26.7 | 12th | 10.1 | -0.2 | 4.0 | 14th | 30.2 | 41.0 | average | 74% |
| Launceston Airport | 22.0 | -0.5 | 27.5 | 12th | 9.1 | -0.3 | 3.2 | 3rd | 20.2 | 53.6 | v low | 38% |
| Low Head | 19.9 | -0.1 | 22.2 | 21st | 13.2 | -0.1 | 8.2 | 3rd | 40.8 | 50.7 | average | 80% |
| Luncheon Hill (Forestry) | 18.1 | -0.8 | 24.1 | 11th | 9.9 | 0.0 | 4.6 | 6th | 94.2 | 88.5 | average | 106% |
| Marrawah | 19.3 | -0.1 | 23.3 | 19th | 11.6 | -0.1 | 8.5 | 14th | 58.4 | 67.7 | average | 86% |
| Scottsdale (West Minstone Road) | 20.3 | -1.0 | 24.8 | 12th | 10.5 | +0.5 | 4.1 | 14th | 44.8 | 56.9 | average | 79% |
| Sheffield School Farm | 19.2 | -0.7 | 22.5 | 15th | 9.4 | 0.0 | 3.1 | 3rd | 75.2 | 69.2 | average | 109% |
| Smithton Aerodrome | 20.2 | -0.2 | 22.5 | 12th | 10.1 | +0.3 | 1.2 | 3rd | 66.4 | 55.1 | average | 121% |
| Wynyard Airport | 19.9 | -0.3 | 22.6 | 15th | 10.8 | +1.1 | 2.9 | 3rd | 71.2 | 50.2 | high | 142% |
| East Coast (district 92) | ||||||||||||
| Bicheno (Council Depot) | 20.3 | -0.3 | 26.0 | 13th | 14.5 | +2.3 | 10.5 | 14th | 110.5 | 57.2 | high | 193% |
| Fingal (Legge Street) | 20.8 | -0.8 | 26.5 | 12th | 10.0 | +1.9 | 3.7 | 3rd | 77.6 | 45.0 | high | 172% |
| Friendly Beaches | 21.7 | +0.1 | 28.7 | 13th | 12.6 | +0.5 | 8.3 | 3rd | 125.4 | 60.0 | v high | 209% |
| Lake Leake (Elizabeth River) | 17.0 | -0.5 | 23.9 | 12th | 7.0 | +0.8 | 1.0 | 14th | 152.4 | 62.5 | v high | 244% |
| larapuna (Eddystone Point) | 21.3 | +1.1 | 25.1 | 15th | 13.6 | +0.5 | 8.3 | 2nd | 87.8 | 58.1 | high | 151% |
| Maria Island (Point Lesueur) | 19.6 | -0.5 | 24.3 | 12th | 13.1 | 0.0 | 8.9 | 14th | 127.2 | 41.3 | v high | 308% |
| Orford (Aubin Court) | 20.8 | +0.2 | 26.0 | 13th | 11.3 | +0.6 | 6.4 | 17th | 152.4 | 46.9 | highest | 325% |
| St Helens Aerodrome | 21.1 | 0.0 | 25.8 | 13th | 12.6 | +0.8 | 6.5 | 3rd | 86.2 | 65.8 | average | 131% |
| Swan Island | 20.4 | -0.1 | 25.3 | 12th | 14.4 | -0.1 | 8.6 | 14th | 63.6 | 56.9 | average | 112% |
| Swansea (Francis Street) | 20.9 | 28.0 | 13th | 11.3 | 6.0 | 14th | 107.0 | 46.3 | v high | 231% | ||
| Midlands (district 93) | ||||||||||||
| Ross (The Boulevards) | 21.6 | -0.2 | 27.4 | 12th | 7.7 | -0.5 | 2.4 | 3rd | 53.4 | 38.0 | average | 141% |
| Southeast (district 94) | ||||||||||||
| Campania (Kincora) | 22.2 | -0.1 | 30.6 | 12th | 9.7 | -0.4 | 3.7 | 14th | 44.2 | 35.3 | average | 125% |
| Cape Bruny (Cape Bruny) | 19.2 | +0.4 | 24.8 | 22nd | 12.0 | +0.3 | 8.1 | 14th | 81.4 | 56.5 | high | 144% |
| Cape Bruny Lighthouse | 18.5 | +0.8 | 23.6 | 22nd | 12.2 | +1.0 | 8.2 | 14th | 84.8 | 67.9 | high | 125% |
| Dennes Point | 20.3 | 25.3 | 12th | 12.2 | 8.4 | 14th | 56.4 | |||||
| Dover | 20.1 | +0.7 | 25.3 | 12th | 8.6 | -0.4 | 4.1 | 14th | 74.2 | 63.2 | average | 117% |
| Dunalley (Stroud Point) | 20.1 | 24.6 | 12th | 12.7 | 8.1 | 14th | 91.4 | |||||
| Hobart (Ellerslie Road) | 21.2 | +1.0 | 29.1 | 12th | 11.8 | +0.9 | 7.7 | 14th | 59.6 | 44.7 | high | 133% |
| Hobart Airport | 21.1 | +0.3 | 28.6 | 12th | 11.0 | +0.2 | 6.4 | 3rd | 54.0 | 36.5 | high | 148% |
| kunanyi (Mount Wellington Pinnacle) | 11.0 | -0.4 | 18.4 | 12th | 3.6 | -0.5 | -1.6 | 14th | 140.0 | 79.6 | high | 176% |
| Maatsuyker Island Lighthouse | 16.0 | -0.3 | 22.1 | 23rd | 11.5 | +0.8 | 6.7 | 14th | 82.6 | 84.6 | average | 98% |
| Melton Mowbray (North Stockman) | 20.6 | -0.5 | 28.2 | 12th | 8.0 | -0.4 | 2.6 | 14th | 44.2 | 33.5 | high | 132% |
| Tasman Island | 16.6 | -0.5 | 21.9 | 31st | 11.8 | +0.4 | 8.1 | 3rd | 123.4 | 71.7 | high | 172% |
| Tunnack Fire Station | 19.1 | -0.1 | 26.1 | 12th | 7.6 | +0.1 | 1.6 | 16th | 56.0 | 49.1 | high | 114% |
| Derwent Valley (district 95) | ||||||||||||
| Bushy Park (Bushy Park Estates) | 22.1 | +0.2 | 28.2 | 12th | 8.3 | -0.2 | 1.6 | 16th | 27.8 | 38.9 | average | 71% |
| Ouse Fire Station | 21.7 | -0.7 | 27.8 | 12th | 8.3 | +0.2 | 0.7 | 16th | 31.4 | 32.7 | average | 96% |
| Central Plateau (district 96) | ||||||||||||
| Butlers Gorge | 16.4 | -0.2 | 24.2 | 12th | 5.6 | +0.4 | -0.4 | 18th | 114.2 | 101.6 | average | 112% |
| Liawenee | 15.1 | -0.9 | 21.4 | 11th | 4.3 | +0.5 | -1.1 | 14th | 54.2 | 65.4 | average | 83% |
| West Coast (district 97) | ||||||||||||
| Cape Sorell | 18.6 | +0.9 | 25.8 | 22nd | 12.3 | +0.7 | 8.9 | 3rd | 72.2 | 83.2 | average | 87% |
| Hartz Mountain (Keoghs Pimple) | 14.3 | -0.3 | 23.0 | 12th | 6.0 | -0.3 | 1.3 | 14th | 129.4 | 74.9 | v high | 173% |
| Low Rocky Point | 17.9 | 25.2 | 23rd | 11.6 | 8.9 | 14th | ||||||
| Mount Read | 11.7 | -0.2 | 18.5 | 12th | 4.7 | -0.4 | -0.4 | 14th | 353.4 | 279.1 | high | 127% |
| Scotts Peak Dam | 17.8 | -0.8 | 27.4 | 22nd | 8.3 | -0.2 | 3.6 | 14th | 123.8 | 124.2 | average | 100% |
| Strahan Aerodrome | 19.2 | -0.4 | 27.4 | 22nd | 10.2 | +0.3 | 5.7 | 16th | 105.0 | 107.1 | average | 98% |
| Warra | 16.5 | -0.5 | 24.9 | 12th | 7.7 | +0.1 | 2.7 | 16th | 109.2 | 103.3 | average | 106% |
| King Island (district 98) | ||||||||||||
| King Island Airport | 19.3 | -1.0 | 25.2 | 12th | 12.3 | 0.0 | 3.9 | 6th | 58.0 | 51.5 | average | 113% |
| Flinders Island (district 99) | ||||||||||||
| Flinders Island Airport | 20.8 | -0.6 | 29.2 | 13th | 13.2 | +0.6 | 5.3 | 3rd | 115.4 | 50.6 | v high | 228% |
| Hogan Island | 19.6 | -1.0 | 24.1 | 13th | 14.3 | -0.3 | 10.5 | 14th | 110.0 | 47.7 | high | 231% |
| 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 11 am on Thursday 1 April 2021. 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
