Friday, 4 November 2022 - Monthly Climate Summary for Tasmania - Product code IDCKGC17R0

Tasmania in October 2022: heavy rain in the north and east

October rainfall was more than double the monthly average across most of northern and eastern Tasmania, but below average in the south-west. Night-time temperatures were above average across the state, although daytime temperatures were close to average. A slow-moving rain band in the middle of the month brought record daily rainfall and significant flooding to much of the north.

Above average rain

• For Tasmania overall, the October total rainfall of 187.3 mm was 58% above the 1961–1990 October average.
• Rainfall was more than double the monthly average across most of northern and eastern Tasmania, but below average in the south-west.
• Many sites in the north of the state, including around Sheffield and Deloraine, had their highest total October rainfall on record.
• Some other sites had their highest total October rainfall for at least 20 years.
• In the middle of the month a slow-moving rain band brought heavy rainfall across northern Tasmania, with widespread daily totals over 50 mm, and localised totals over 100 mm, in the 24 hours to 9am on the 13th and 14th.
• Many sites had their highest October daily rainfall on record in the 24 hours to 9am on the 14th.
• Late in the month, a low pressure system in the Bass Strait brought rain to the east coast, with daily totals of 25 to 50 mm on the 26th and 27th.
• For the cool season (April to October 2022) period, rainfall has been average or above average in the north and east, but below average (driest 30% of all years since 1900) across much of western Tasmania.

Relatively warm nights

• For Tasmania overall, the mean maximum temperature was 0.36 °C above the 1961–1990 October average.
• Mean maximum temperatures were slightly above average in the west of the state, but slightly below average in the east.
• Overall, nights were relatively warm, with the mean minimum temperature 0.65 °C above the October average.
• Mean minimum temperatures were above or very much above average (compared to all Octobers since 1910) across Tasmania.
• There were some cold nights at the start of the month, as a high pressure system resulted in clear skies across the south.
• Butlers Gorge and Ouse had their lowest October temperature on record on the 5th.

Hobart (Ellerslie Road)

• Total rainfall for Hobart (Ellerslie Road) was 90.2 mm, which is 145% of the long-term average of 62.1 mm.
• The mean daily maximum temperature for Hobart (Ellerslie Road) was 16.9 °C, which is 0.1 °C below the long-term average of 17.0 °C.
• The warmest day was 24.3 °C on the 21st, and the coolest day was on the 4th when the temperature reached 12.3 °C.
• The mean daily minimum temperature for Hobart (Ellerslie Road) was 8.7 °C, which is 0.9 °C above the long-term average of 7.8 °C.
• The coldest morning was 3.1 °C on the 9th, and the warmest morning was on the 13th when the minimum temperature was 14.3 °C.

Heavy rain and floods in the north and east

• A slow-moving rain band crossed Tasmania on the 12th and 13th, before moving into the Tasman Sea on the 14th.
• The rain band was within a cold front which had connected with moist air drawn down from the tropics.
• The system brought heavy rain across northern Tasmania, with daily totals of 50 to 150 mm in the 24 hours to 9am on the 13th, followed by 50 to 200 mm to 9am on the 14th.
• The highest daily total at a Bureau site was 188.8 mm at Mount Barrow on the 14th, the fourth-highest October daily total ever in Tasmania at a Bureau site.
• A Flood Warning raingauge east of Great Lake recorded 386.8 mm in 30 hours from the evening of the 12th.
• Tasmania as a whole had its wettest October day on record in the 24 hours to 9am on 14th.
• Major flood warnings were issued for the Mersey, Meander, Macquarie, Ouse and North Esk Rivers, and the Tasmania SES issued several Emergency Warnings to evacuate.
• Flooding in northern Tasmania was the most significant since the June 2016 floods.
• Rain on the 26th and 27th from a low pressure system in Bass Strait resulted in renewed rises in some river levels, including the South Esk and Macquarie Rivers.

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

Click on a map to show it full size in a pop-up window

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

Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top

Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top