Monday, 5 September 2022 - Monthly Climate Summary for Tasmania - Product code IDCKGC17R0

Tasmania in August 2022: heavy rain at times and seventh-warmest August on record

Tasmania in August was generally wet, and the monthly rainfall was 28% above average, making it the wettest August since 2013. Heavy rain in the middle of the month resulted in flooding south of Hobart and in the north-east. Temperatures were above average across the state. The overall mean temperature was 1.08 °C above average, making it the seventh-warmest August on record.

Wettest August since 2013

• August rainfall was above- to very much above average across most of Tasmania away from the south-west.
• For Tasmania overall, the monthly rainfall of 188.9 mm was 28% above the 1961–1990 average, making it the wettest August since 2013.
• Rainfall in the North East and East Coast Districts was 150 to 200% above the August average, and in the wettest 10% of all years since 1900.
• Mount Seymour and Hartz Mountain in the south-east had their highest total August rainfall on record.
• In the middle of the month, a low pressure system moved slowly over Bass Strait, bringing heavy rain and flooding to eastern areas.
• In the 24 hours to 9am on the 14th, Mountain River south of Hobart recorded 125.0 mm and kunyani (Mount Wellington Pinnacle) recorded 108.8 mm.
• Some other sites, including Lewis Hill with 93 years of observations, had their highest August daily rainfall on record.
• There was flash and riverine flooding around Huonville on the 14th, following 30 to 40 mm of rain in 6 hours in the early hours of the morning.
• Minor to moderate flooding was recorded along the North Esk, South Esk, Macquarie, Huon, Jordan and Coal Rivers.

Seventh-warmest August on record

• Temperatures in August were above- to very much above average across Tasmania.
• For the state overall, the monthly mean temperature was 1.08 °C above the 1961–1990 average, the seventh-warmest August on record since 1910 and the warmest since 2011.
• The mean maximum temperature was 1.20 °C above average, the sixth-warmest on record, and the mean minimum temperature was 0.96 °C above average.
• Devonport Airport had its highest August mean daily maximum temperature on record.
• Strong north-easterly winds brought unusually warm air to western Tasmania on the 29th, with some sites reporting their highest August temperature on record.

Hobart (Ellerslie Road)

• Total rainfall for Hobart (Ellerslie Road) was 67.0 mm, which is 123% of the long-term average of 54.3 mm.
• The mean daily maximum temperature for Hobart (Ellerslie Road) was 14.6 °C, which is 1.5 °C above the long-term average of 13.1 °C.
• The warmest day was 21.1 °C on the 29th, and the coolest day was on the 6th when the temperature reached 9.9 °C.
• The mean daily minimum temperature for Hobart (Ellerslie Road) was 6.1 °C, which is 0.9 °C above the long-term average of 5.2 °C.
• The coldest morning was 0.9 °C on the 21st, and the warmest morning was on the 15th when the minimum temperature was 10.3 °C.

Snow in elevated regions

• A strong cold front crossed south-eastern Australia on the 17th and 18th, bringing damaging winds to the state, with wind gusts of more than 100 km/h recorded at several sites.
• Maatsuyker Island recorded a maximum daily wind gust of 128 km/h on the 18th and Mount Read a gust of 107 km/h.
• Snow settled across elevated regions, including kunyani (Mount Wellington Pinnacle), Cradle Mountain and Mount Mawson.

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

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Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top

Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top