Tasmania in July 2021: mild temperatures, wet across the north-west, dry in the south-east

Rainfall for July was above average across north-west Tasmania, especially King Island. Conversely, it was drier than average in the south-east, particularly along the coast. Both days and nights were warmer than average across the state.

Mixed rainfall

  • July rainfall was 8.1% above average for Tasmania overall and the highest since 2019.
  • Rainfall was above average across north-west Tasmania extending into the Central Plateau district.
  • July was much drier than average along the south-east coast from around North West Bay up to around Scamander.
  • There was coastal flooding for parts of south-eastern Tasmania on the 24th due to a combination of surge and tide.
  • Meander (Meander River) had its highest total July rainfall on record, and several other sites had their highest total July rainfall for at least 20 years.

Not as cold as usual

  • The mean maximum temperature for Tasmania as a whole was 0.65 °C warmer than average, the highest since 2014.
  • Tasmania's mean minimum temperature was 0.81 °C warmer than average, the highest since 2019.
  • Parts of northern Tasmania had mean maximum and mean minimum temperatures in the warmest 10% of records.
  • Minimum temperatures were more than 4 °C warmer than average across most of the north from the 14th to the 16th, and more than 6 °C warmer than average across the north-east on the 28th.
  • Wynyard Airport had its warmest July night (highest daily minimum temperature) on record.

Hobart (Ellerslie Road)

  • Total rainfall for Hobart (Ellerslie Road) was 14.2 mm, which is 27% of the long-term average of 51.8 mm.
  • The mean daily maximum temperature for Hobart (Ellerslie Road) was 13.0 °C, which is 1.2 °C above the long-term average of 11.8 °C.
  • The warmest day was 17.7 °C on the 31st, and the coolest day was on the 25th when the temperature reached 8.7 °C.
  • The mean daily minimum temperature for Hobart (Ellerslie Road) was 5.6 °C, which is 1.0 °C above the long-term average of 4.6 °C.
  • The coldest morning was 0.2 °C on the 7th, and the warmest morning was on the 28th when the minimum temperature was 11.2 °C.
  • Fog was reported in some suburbs on the 16th.

Further information

Media
(03) 9669 4057

Extremes in July 2021
Hottest day 18.2 °C at Friendly Beaches on the 1st
Warmest days on average 14.5 °C at Bicheno (Council Depot)
Coolest days on average 2.9 °C at kunanyi (Mount Wellington Pinnacle)
Coldest day -1.2 °C at kunanyi (Mount Wellington Pinnacle) on the 7th
Coldest night -7.8 °C at Liawenee on the 10th
Coolest nights on average -0.9 °C at kunanyi (Mount Wellington Pinnacle)
Warmest nights on average 9.1 °C at Swan Island
Warmest night 13.0 °C at Flinders Island Airport on the 28th
Warmest on average overall 11.3 °C at Swan Island
Coolest on average overall 1.0 °C at kunanyi (Mount Wellington Pinnacle)
Wettest overall 512.2 mm at Mount Read
Wettest day 84.4 mm at Mount Read on the 27th
Strongest wind gust 131 km/h at Maatsuyker Island Lighthouse on the 25th

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 total rainfall
New record
(mm)
Old
record
Years of
record
Average for
July
Meander (Meander River) 224.8 199.6 in 2016 24 120.2

Highest July total rainfall for at least 20 years
Observed
(mm)
Most recent
higher
Average for
July
King Island Airport 195.4 214.8 in 1975 117.2
Naracoopa 214.6 218.8 in 1975* 129.3
Western Creek (Somer Hill) 248.3 316.0 in 1975* 148.1

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




Record highest July daily minimum temperature
New record
(°C)
Old
record
Years of
record
Average for
July
Wynyard Airport 12.5 on the 2nd 12.2 on the 1st in 2005 35 3.5



Summary statistics for July 2021
Maximum temperatures
(°C)
Minimum temperatures
(°C)
Rainfall
(millimetres)
Mean for
July
2021
Diff
from
average
Highest for
July
2021
Mean for
July
2021
Diff
from
average
Lowest for
July
2021
Total for
July
2021
Average
for
July
Rank of
July
2021
Fraction of
July
average
Northern (district 91)
Cape Grim 12.8 +0.3 14.5 31st 8.3 0.0 3.8 9th 165.8 128.5 high 129%
Cape Grim BAPS (Comparison) 12.9 +0.3 14.9 31st 8.2 0.0 3.6 9th 169.2 111.4 v high 152%
Cressy Research Station 11.8 0.0 14.8 1st 2.8 +1.2 -3.0 9th 88.0 64.9 high 136%
Devonport Airport 13.2 +0.4 15.3 21st 6.0 +1.3 0.2 7th 108.0 96.0 high 113%
Launceston (Ti Tree Bend) 13.0 +0.3 15.8 1st 3.6 +1.3 -2.6 9th 115.4 80.0 high 144%
Launceston Airport 11.9 +0.1 15.6 1st 2.7 +0.6 -3.1 9th 113.4 70.2 high 162%
Low Head 12.9 +0.1 15.8 1st 8.1 +1.2 2.3 9th 85.4 75.1 average 114%
Luncheon Hill (Forestry) 10.7 +0.2 13.1 9th 5.5 +0.5 0.9 26th 261.0 203.4 high 128%
Marrawah       7.3 +0.5 3.0 26th 182.2 142.3 high 128%
Scottsdale (West Minstone Road) 11.9 -0.1 14.8 1st 4.7 +1.0 -0.3 21st 169.8 119.6 high 142%
Sheffield School Farm 10.9 +0.1 13.7 1st 3.7 +0.4 -2.7 7th 228.0 138.9 v high 164%
Smithton Aerodrome 13.5 +0.4 16.5 31st 5.4 +0.7 -0.7 9th 138.8 121.7 average 114%
Wynyard Airport 13.0 +0.3 15.3 1st 4.5 +1.0 -1.1 9th 155.2 131.9 average 118%
East Coast (district 92)
Bicheno (Council Depot) 14.5 +0.4 17.5 27th 6.2 +0.1 1.2 7th 5.2 50.9 v low 10%
Fingal (Legge Street) 12.8 +0.6 16.1 27th 0.8 +0.2 -5.1 9th 24.6 54.9 low 45%
Friendly Beaches 14.4 +0.6 18.2 1st 5.8 +0.1 0.8 7th 12.2 39.6 v low 31%
Lake Leake (Elizabeth River) 9.0 +0.4 11.9 1st 0.5 +0.3 -5.1 9th 52.0 75.9 average 69%
larapuna (Eddystone Point) 13.9 +0.9 16.4 1st 7.9 +1.0 2.7 21st 39.8 74.0 low 54%
Maria Island (Point Lesueur) 12.6 -0.1 15.4 27th 7.9 +0.5 3.9 7th 10.0 28.7 v low 35%
Orford (Aubin Court) 12.9 -0.2 16.7 27th 4.2 +0.6 0.8 7th 9.8 53.6 v low 18%
St Helens Aerodrome 13.7 +0.1 16.8 1st 4.7 -0.1 0.1 8th 21.2 44.2 low 48%
Swan Island 13.5 +0.2 15.9 1st 9.1 +0.7 4.8 21st 59.6 65.3 average 91%
Swansea (Francis Street) 13.9   17.7 1st 4.0   -0.7 7th 6.4 22.9 v low 28%
Midlands (district 93)
Ross (The Boulevards) 11.8 +0.5 14.8 1st 1.6 +0.2 -5.4 7th 46.0 41.2 high 112%
Southeast (district 94)
Campania (Kincora) 13.4 +0.3 17.6 1st 3.3 -0.1 -2.6 7th 12.6 35.2 v low 36%
Cape Bruny (Cape Bruny) 12.6 +0.5 17.0 31st 6.9 +0.3 2.6 9th 71.8 74.7 average 96%
Dennes Point 12.7   15.8 1st 6.7   1.6 9th 13.8
Dover 12.0 -0.3 17.0 31st 3.5 0.0 -1.3 7th 70.0 87.2 average 80%
Dunalley (Stroud Point) 13.2   17.8 1st 6.8   2.6 7th 21.4 36.3 low 59%
Grove (Research Station) 12.8 +0.6 16.7 31st 2.2 +0.2 -4.0 9th 44.0 67.4 low 65%
Hobart (Ellerslie Road) 13.0 +1.2 17.7 31st 5.6 +1.0 0.2 7th 14.2 51.8 v low 27%
Hobart Airport 13.3 +0.8 17.6 1st 4.3 +0.2 0.1 7th 8.4 41.7 v low 20%
kunanyi (Mount Wellington Pinnacle) 2.9 +0.4 6.4 11th -0.9 +0.6 -5.6 7th 15.8 64.9 v low 24%
Maatsuyker Island Lighthouse 11.5 +0.5 14.3 30th 7.5 +0.8 3.7 26th 141.0 128.7 average 110%
Tasman Island 11.1 +0.2 14.7 1st 7.1 +0.5 4.0 26th 49.6 68.5 low 72%
Tunnack Fire Station 9.8 +0.2 12.8 1st 1.8 +0.3 -6.0 9th 19.8 40.0 low 50%
Derwent Valley (district 95)
Bushy Park (Bushy Park Estates) 11.9 +0.7 17.5 31st 1.5 0.0 -4.4 10th 40.0 49.8 average 80%
Ouse Fire Station 11.6 0.0 16.5 31st 0.9 -0.2 -4.9 9th 50.8 53.8 average 94%
Central Plateau (district 96)
Butlers Gorge 8.1 +1.0 10.9 10th 0.2 +0.5 -5.4 7th 189.0 178.9 average 106%
Liawenee 5.6 0.0 9.5 10th -0.6 +1.0 -7.8 10th 207.0 120.3 v high 172%
West Coast (district 97)
Hartz Mountain (Keoghs Pimple) 6.2 +0.3 11.0 11th 1.5 +0.1 -2.0 9th 104.8 106.8 average 98%
Low Rocky Point 12.9   16.4 12th 7.3   3.6 7th 201.2 152.7 high 132%
Mount Read 4.0 +0.3 7.0 10th 0.6 +0.4 -4.0 26th 512.2 414.6 average 124%
Scotts Peak Dam 9.9 +0.7 13.1 12th 3.7 +0.4 -0.6 9th 238.6 216.6 high 110%
Strahan Aerodrome 13.0 +0.7 15.6 2nd 6.2 +0.9 0.2 4th 278.0 181.6 high 153%
Warra 8.9 +0.3 11.7 1st 3.0 +0.5 -2.4 9th 174.6 190.5 average 92%
King Island (district 98)
King Island Airport 13.5 +0.2 15.5 26th 7.9 +0.3 2.2 7th 195.4 117.2 v high 167%
Flinders Island (district 99)
Flinders Island Airport 14.1 +0.7 17.5 31st 7.3 +1.0 -0.3 8th 81.8 81.2 average 101%
Hogan Island 13.2 +0.2 15.8 1st 8.9 0.0 3.5 25th 74.6 74.6 average 100%
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 Monday 2 August 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
(03) 9669 4057

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