Tasmania in October 2021: record wet in the east

Rainfall was very much above average to highest on record for the eastern half of the state. Night-times were very much warmer than average for most of Tasmania. Daytime temperatures were close to average for most of the state, tending to cooler than average in the east.

10th wettest October on record

  • October rainfall was 69% above average for Tasmania overall, making it the 10th wettest on record and the wettest since 2016.
  • Parts of the east had their wettest October on record. See table for highest total October rainfall records.
  • For many other sites it was their highest total October rainfall for at least 20 years.
  • Many sites had their highest October daily rainfall on record on the 29th associated with a low pressure system that also brought snow to elevated parts of the state.
  • October rainfall was close to average for parts of western and south-western Tasmania.
  • Cool season (April to October) rainfall was above average for King Island and parts of central and south-eastern Tasmania and generally close to average for most of the rest of the state.

6th warmest October nights on record

  • The mean minimum temperature for Tasmania as a whole was 0.99 °C warmer than average, making it the 6th warmest October on record and the warmest since 2017.
  • Night-time temperatures were warmer than average across the entire state.
  • The mean maximum temperature was -0.10 °C cooler than average.
  • Daytime temperatures were close to average for most of Tasmania, tending to cooler than average in the east and south-east.
  • Several sites in the East Coast and Southeast districts had their coldest October day on record towards the end of the month, including Bicheno (Council Depot) which also had its lowest October mean daily maximum temperature on record.

Hobart (Ellerslie Road)

  • Total rainfall for Hobart (Ellerslie Road) was 160.4 mm, which is a whopping 259% of the long-term average of 61.9 mm.
  • Hobart Airport had its wettest October on record and Hobart (Ellerslie Road) had its 3rd wettest on record and its wettest October since 1947.
  • The mean daily maximum temperature for Hobart (Ellerslie Road) was 16.5 °C, which is 0.5 °C below the long-term average of 17.0 °C.
  • The warmest day was 23.9 °C on the 21st, and the coolest day was on the 29th when the temperature reached 10.5 °C.
  • The mean daily minimum temperature for Hobart (Ellerslie Road) was 8.8 °C, which is 1.0 °C above the long-term average of 7.8 °C.
  • The coldest morning was 3.6 °C on the 11th, and the warmest morning was on the 22nd when the minimum temperature was 14.7 °C.

Further information

Media
(03) 9669 4057

Extremes in October 2021
Hottest day 25.6 °C at Scotts Peak Dam on the 27th
Warmest days on average 17.9 °C at Launceston (Ti Tree Bend)
Coolest days on average 6.3 °C at kunanyi (Mount Wellington Pinnacle)
Coldest day -0.6 °C at kunanyi (Mount Wellington Pinnacle) on the 29th
Coldest night -4.8 °C at kunanyi (Mount Wellington Pinnacle) on the 30th
Coolest nights on average 0.2 °C at kunanyi (Mount Wellington Pinnacle)
Warmest nights on average 10.5 °C at Swan Island
Warmest night 16.7 °C at Strahan Aerodrome on the 22nd
Warmest on average overall 13.4 °C at Flinders Island Airport
Coolest on average overall 3.2 °C at kunanyi (Mount Wellington Pinnacle)
Wettest overall 509.0 mm at Mount Barrow (South Barrow)
Wettest day 182.2 mm at Gray (Dalmayne Rd) on the 15th
Strongest wind gust 180 km/h at kunanyi (Mount Wellington Pinnacle) on the 29th

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 October daily rainfall
New record
(mm)
Old
record
Years of
record
Pyengana (Forest Lodge Road) 123.0 on the 15th 116.2 on the 22nd in 2005 60
Mauriceton (Jordan River) 33.6 on the 29th 33.2 on the 5th in 2020 52
Marrawah 51.0 on the 29th 50.2 on the 24th in 2005 51
Rotherwood 47.0 on the 29th 37.3 on the 20th in 1973 50
Cape Grim BAPS (Comparison) 59.6 on the 29th 38.2 on the 31st in 2010 35
Three Hummock Island 43.8 on the 29th 43.2 on the 28th in 1945 30
Nierinna (Cuthberts Road) 41.8 on the 30th 36.4 on the 9th in 2020 29
Ross (The Boulevards) 38.4 on the 24th 33.4 on the 22nd in 2016 29
Llewellyn (South Esk River) 41.6 on the 24th 30.4 on the 11th in 1999 28
Mount Morriston (Macquarie River) 41.4 on the 24th 29.4 on the 22nd in 2016 28
Mount Seymour 45.4 on the 29th 29.4 on the 9th in 2020 28
Below Craigbourne Dam (Coal River) 41.4 on the 29th 26.4 on the 5th in 2020 27
Strathbridge (Meander River) 42.2 on the 24th 35.8 on the 22nd in 2005 27
Hartz Mountain (Keoghs Pimple) 36.0 on the 30th 33.6 on the 1st in 2016 26
Low Rocky Point 58.8 on the 16th 56.0 on the 11th in 1999 26
Nunamara Offtake (St Patricks River) 61.2 on the 24th 36.2 on the 1st in 2013 26
Cape Bruny (Cape Bruny) 28.6 on the 5th 26.8 on the 17th in 2016 25
Mount Barrow (South Barrow) 82.4 on the 15th 81.3 on the 7th in 1968 25
Tunnack Fire Station 33.0 on the 30th 32.4 on the 5th in 2020 25
Ouse Fire Station 43.6 on the 29th 40.2 on the 5th in 2020 24
Birralee Creek 33.4 on the 29th 32.6 on the 22nd in 2016 23
Wayatinah (Saltas) 44.6 on the 29th 38.0 on the 11th in 1999 23
Cygnet (Synotts Road) 40.8 on the 29th 22.8 on the 3rd in 2001 21
Liawenee 50.8 on the 29th 42.6 on the 3rd in 2016 21
Kingston (Greenhill Drive) 35.4 on the 29th 34.4 on the 5th in 2020 20
Tasman Island 37.8 on the 29th 35.6 on the 5th in 2020 20



Record highest October total rainfall
New record
(mm)
Old
record
Years of
record
Average for
October
Eaglehawk Neck (Jetty Road) 227.8 194.1 in 1949 102 77.9
Bicheno (Council Depot) 202.7 174.0 in 2005 97 56.2
Lewis Hill (St Pauls River) 177.2 168.9 in 1958 90 52.6
Woodbridge 243.6 207.4 in 1947 70 84.9
Orford (Aubin Court) 229.8 175.4 in 1952 69 60.5
Hobart Airport 135.4 117.3 in 1975 64 47.1
Waterhouse(Barooga) 164.4 119.4 in 2005 61 53.4
Pyengana (Forest Lodge Road) 375.0 309.2 in 2005 60 103.0
Taroona (Taroona Crescent) 172.4 138.2 in 2001 60 59.9
Coles Bay (Freycinet) 214.0 166.4 in 1976 58 55.4
Margate (Sunnyside) 187.2 179.2 in 1988 54 70.8
Marrawah 174.6 171.4 in 1989 51 87.5
Scottsdale (West Minstone Road) 155.8 153.2 in 1986 51 81.3
Rotherwood 196.6 140.4 in 1988 50 57.7
King Island Airport 158.8 136.2 in 2000 47 73.2
Westbury (Birralee Road) 154.4 147.6 in 1979 43 61.8
kunanyi (Mount Wellington Pinnacle) 322.2 271.8 in 2001 37 84.0
Tea Tree (The Point) 165.7 117.1 in 2020 36 55.2
Cape Grim BAPS (Comparison) 174.6 127.8 in 2001 35 64.6
Richmond (Strathayr) 140.0 107.8 in 1988 34 51.7
Three Hummock Island 150.8 130.6 in 2016 30 66.3
Nierinna (Cuthberts Road) 245.0 164.8 in 2016 29 89.8
Ross (The Boulevards) 132.2 106.4 in 2020 29 46.4
Mount Victoria (Una Plain) 307.6 293.9 in 1958 28 141.8
Southport (Huon Highway) 258.8 196.4 in 2001 28 98.1
Llewellyn (South Esk River) 128.6 90.6 in 2020 27 46.5
Golden Valley (Brodies Road) 158.6 157.8 in 2016 26 73.7
Below Craigbourne Dam (Coal River) 151.2 107.8 in 2020 25 46.9
Mount Morriston (Macquarie River) 158.0 119.0 in 2020 25 43.4
Mount Seymour 214.2 151.6 in 2020 25 51.9
Smithton Aerodrome 163.8 141.2 in 2001 25 78.2
Strathbridge (Meander River) 133.6 128.6 in 2005 25 48.3
Deloraine Railway Bridge (Meander River) 145.2 132.2 in 2001 24 58.8
Friendly Beaches 241.2 152.4 in 2005 24 61.9
Judbury (Huon River) 143.6 119.6 in 2016 24 66.3
Nunamara Offtake (St Patricks River) 204.8 143.4 in 2020 24 75.3
Tunnack Fire Station 176.8 149.0 in 2020 24 60.4
Hartz Mountain (Keoghs Pimple) 211.2 199.2 in 2016 23 96.6
Upper Esk (South Esk River) 242.8 175.8 in 2016 23 85.3
Campania (Kincora) 109.6 94.4 in 2020 22 45.5
Corra Linn (North Esk River) 116.2 83.6 in 2013 22 47.7
Hermitage (Shannon River) 147.4 109.8 in 2016 22 54.6
Bothwell (Clyde River) 102.2 88.8 in 2020 21 41.7
Birralee Creek 152.4 126.0 in 2020 20 48.6
Cygnet (Synotts Road) 157.9 140.4 in 2001 20 72.0
Kingston (Greenhill Drive) 208.4 107.8 in 2020 20 63.1
Mount Barrow (South Barrow) 509.0 268.2 in 2005 20 147.6
Tasman Island 170.0 112.0 in 2013 20 63.0
Tea Tree Point 158.4 127.2 in 2020 20 53.0

Highest October total rainfall for at least 20 years
Observed
(mm)
Most recent
higher
Average for
October
Hobart (Ellerslie Road) 160.4 193.1 in 1947 61.9
Wattle Hill 189.2 191.1 in 1947 60.0
Naracoopa 178.8 251.6 in 1949 85.0
Dover 228.2 250.3 in 1947* 86.1
Opossum Bay 139.6 182.1 in 1947* 52.9
Lake Leake (Elizabeth River) 197.6 268.2 in 1958 75.2
Pioneer (Main Road) 238.6 252.5 in 1958 88.6
Tooms Lake (Tooms River) 178.6 210.6 in 1958* 52.8
Launceston (Kings Meadows) 112.4 115.0 in 1971* 59.7
larapuna (Eddystone Point) 116.0 170.5 in 1976* 67.3
Weetah (Weetah Road) 164.2 176.8 in 1986* 80.2
City of Melbourne Bay 164.4 167.2 in 1989 88.5
Lucaston (Bakers Creek Road) 151.4 226.4 in 1988* 83.5
Lymington (Fattys Lane) 185.6 193.2 in 1988* 76.8
Mauriceton (Jordan River) 124.6 188.2 in 1988* 49.4
Cressy Research Station 139.6 142.6 in 2000 53.4
Cape Bruny (Cape Bruny) 120.0 135.4 in 2001 66.7
Fingal (Legge Street) 142.0 147.0 in 2001 53.9
Fort Direction 109.6 133.8 in 2001 48.0
Launceston (Ti Tree Bend) 114.8 121.4 in 2000* 51.9

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




Record lowest October daily maximum temperature
New record
(°C)
Old
record
Years of
record
Average for
October
Bicheno (Council Depot) 11.5 on the 25th = 11.5 on the 27th in 2004 46 17.5
Dover 8.3 on the 29th 8.8 on the 16th in 2010 32 16.4
Friendly Beaches 10.7 on the 25th = 10.7 on the 24th in 2011 25 18.3
Campania (Kincora) 9.9 on the 29th 10.0 on the 27th in 2004 22 18.2



Record lowest October mean daily maximum temperature
New record
(°C)
Old
record
Years of
record
Average for
October
Bicheno (Council Depot) 15.9 16.0 in 2003 45 17.5

Lowest October mean daily maximum temperature for at least 20 years
Observed
(°C)
Most recent
lower
Average for
October
Orford (Aubin Court) 15.6 15.0 in 1976 17.4



Summary statistics for October 2021
Maximum temperatures
(°C)
Minimum temperatures
(°C)
Rainfall
(millimetres)
Mean for
October
2021
Diff
from
average
Highest for
October
2021
Mean for
October
2021
Diff
from
average
Lowest for
October
2021
Total for
October
2021
Average
for
October
Rank of
October
2021
Fraction of
October
average
Northern (district 91)
Cape Grim 13.8 -0.6 18.2 1st 9.3 0.0 3.8 12th 169.6 70.3 v high 241%
Cape Grim BAPS (Comparison) 14.4 -0.1 19.0 1st 9.4 +0.2 5.1 12th 174.6 64.6 highest 270%
Cressy Research Station 16.5 -0.9 22.2 28th 6.8 +1.7 -0.8 11th 139.6 53.4 v high 261%
Devonport Airport 16.7 +0.7 20.9 1st 8.6 +1.2 2.6 11th 123.6 62.9 v high 197%
Launceston (Ti Tree Bend) 17.9 -0.3 24.1 28th 8.3 +1.3 2.1 30th 114.8 51.9 v high 221%
Launceston Airport 16.8 -0.9 23.8 28th 6.4 +1.0 0.3 30th 108.0 44.3 v high 244%
Low Head 15.8 +0.4 20.2 2nd 10.0 +0.4 6.2 20th 112.4 50.7 v high 222%
Luncheon Hill (Forestry) 14.8 -0.1 22.9 1st 6.6 +0.5 1.5 11th 209.6 128.1 high 164%
Marrawah       8.5 +0.4 4.5 12th 174.6 87.5 highest 200%
Scottsdale (West Minstone Road) 15.9 -0.6 21.5 28th 6.9 +1.1 0.7 30th 155.8 81.3 highest 192%
Sheffield School Farm 15.1 -0.3 20.1 28th 6.5 +0.7 1.0 11th 213.8 79.2 v high 270%
Smithton Aerodrome 16.5 +0.1 21.1 2nd 8.0 +1.1 0.8 11th 163.8 78.2 highest 209%
Wynyard Airport 16.5 +0.2 22.1 3rd 7.7 +1.5 2.2 11th 131.6 93.4 high 141%
East Coast (district 92)
Bicheno (Council Depot) 15.9 -1.6 21.0 9th 9.0 +0.4 4.2 11th 202.7 56.2 highest 361%
Fingal (Legge Street) 16.1 -1.5 23.7 28th 6.8 +1.9 0.0 31st 142.0 53.9 v high 263%
Friendly Beaches 16.9 -1.4 22.8 9th 8.7 +0.1 3.6 11th 241.2 61.9 highest 390%
Lake Leake (Elizabeth River) 12.9 -1.0 19.4 28th 5.3 +1.8 -0.7 11th 197.6 75.2 v high 263%
larapuna (Eddystone Point) 16.6 +0.3 19.6 9th 9.7 +0.7 3.7 30th 116.0 67.3 high 172%
Maria Island (Point Lesueur) 14.8 -1.9 18.4 8th 9.3 -0.1 5.7 30th 168.8 42.5 v high 397%
Orford (Aubin Court) 15.6 -1.8 21.2 8th 8.0 +0.7 0.8 11th 229.8 60.5 highest 380%
St Helens Aerodrome 16.8 -0.8 22.2 28th 8.5 +0.4 2.2 30th 160.2 64.7 high 248%
Swan Island 15.8 -0.3 19.4 16th 10.5 +0.2 6.3 30th 110.2 47.1 v high 234%
Swansea (Francis Street) 16.2 -1.7 21.0 31st 8.1 +0.5 2.9 20th 169.0 52.4 v high 323%
Midlands (district 93)
Ross (The Boulevards) 16.2 -1.1 22.2 28th 5.9 +1.0 -1.4 11th 132.2 46.4 highest 285%
Southeast (district 94)
Campania (Kincora) 16.6 -1.6 23.7 21st 7.0 +0.4 -0.2 20th 109.6 45.5 highest 241%
Cape Bruny (Cape Bruny) 15.1 -0.5 24.0 21st 8.7 +0.5 4.8 12th 120.0 66.7 v high 180%
Dennes Point 15.4   20.5 8th 8.9   4.4 11th 132.2 50.8 v high 260%
Dover 15.4 -1.0 25.0 21st 7.0 +0.6 1.2 20th 228.2 86.1 v high 265%
Dunalley (Stroud Point) 15.3   20.4 8th 9.2   3.9 20th 153.4
Grove (Research Station) 16.0 -1.4 22.9 21st 6.7 +1.2 -0.8 20th 168.0 66.7 v high 252%
Hobart (Ellerslie Road) 16.5 -0.5 23.9 21st 8.8 +1.0 3.6 11th 160.4 61.9 v high 259%
Hobart Airport 16.1 -1.3 24.0 21st 8.4 +0.8 2.4 11th 135.4 47.1 highest 287%
kunanyi (Mount Wellington Pinnacle) 6.3 -1.1 14.2 27th 0.2 0.0 -4.8 30th 322.2 84.0 highest 384%
Maatsuyker Island Lighthouse 13.0 -0.3 24.5 21st 8.1 +0.6 4.9 30th 136.8 104.7 high 131%
Tasman Island 12.5 -1.3 17.6 27th 7.7 +0.1 3.7 30th 170.0 63.0 highest 270%
Tunnack Fire Station 13.6 -1.2 19.3 21st 4.9 +0.5 -2.7 20th 176.8 60.4 highest 293%
Derwent Valley (district 95)
Bushy Park (Bushy Park Estates) 17.7 -0.1 24.6 21st 7.3 +1.5 -0.5 11th 86.6 57.1 high 152%
Ouse Fire Station 17.0 -1.0 23.7 28th 6.8 +1.5 0.0 11th 116.0 56.3 v high 206%
Central Plateau (district 96)
Butlers Gorge 12.3 -0.4 23.0 27th 3.1 +0.7 -2.3 26th 193.2 159.7 high 121%
Liawenee 10.6 -1.4 20.4 28th 1.9 +1.1 -2.7 11th 163.8 75.8 v high 216%
West Coast (district 97)
Cape Sorell 16.0 +1.5 22.4 1st 9.2 +0.5 5.1 12th 138.6 105.8 high 131%
Hartz Mountain (Keoghs Pimple) 10.3 -0.8 22.3 27th 2.7 0.0 -1.6 30th 211.2 96.6 highest 219%
Low Rocky Point 15.2   23.6 21st 8.5   3.1 12th 175.2 112.7 high 155%
Mount Read 7.7 -0.1 15.7 27th 1.8 +0.4 -3.0 30th 396.8 366.6 average 108%
Scotts Peak Dam 15.2 +0.3 25.6 27th 5.4 +0.3 1.0 12th 180.0 165.8 average 109%
Strahan Aerodrome 16.6 +0.4 23.2 27th 8.0 +0.7 1.0 12th 167.6 120.1 high 140%
Warra 12.5 -1.3 20.9 27th 5.0 +0.7 -0.2 20th 175.2 179.7 average 97%
King Island (district 98)
King Island Airport 15.4 -0.6 21.9 27th 9.2 +0.3 3.0 26th 158.8 73.2 highest 217%
Flinders Island (district 99)
Flinders Island Airport 17.0 +0.1 23.2 28th 9.9 +1.3 1.1 12th 88.4 58.2 high 152%
Hogan Island 15.9 -0.5 22.2 28th 10.4 +0.1 8.2 12th 41.8 41.4 average 101%
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 Wednesday 3 November 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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