Tasmania in November 2022: cool wet and windy

Following a wet October with saturated soils, November rainfall brought renewed flooding, especially in areas of the north and east where totals were very much above average. Temperatures were generally cooler than average with with snow to low levels at times.

Wet in the north and east

  • For Tasmania overall, the November total rainfall of 132.0 mm was 31.1% above the 1961–1990 November average.
  • Parts of northern and eastern Tasmania were very much wetter than average, and some stations with relatively short historical records had their wettest November.
  • November rainfall in the south-west was close to average.
  • From the 14th to 16th, a humid northerly flow combined with surface troughs generating showers and thunderstorms with heavy falls across most of Tasmania that caused renewed flooding. On the 14th totals of 15–50 mm were recorded over the northern half of Tasmania, with totals of 50–100 mm in the north-east. On the 15th, away from north coast, totals ranged from 10–50 mm, and on the 16th up to 50 mm was recorded along the east coast.
  • The highest daily total was 69.6 mm to 9 am at Fortescue Bay on the 16th.
  • Mount Dromedary, Poatina, York Plains (Inverell), Scotts Peak Dam had their highest November daily rainfall on record.
  • Scotts Peak Dam and Cygnet (Synotts Road) had their highest total November rainfall on record.
  • Sites at Orford, Eaglehawk Neck and Woodbridge had their highest total November rainfall for at least 20 years.

Cooler than average days and nights

Hobart (Ellerslie Road)

  • Total rainfall for Hobart (Ellerslie Road) was 78.6 mm, which is 145% of the long-term average of 54.3 mm.
  • The mean daily maximum temperature for Hobart (Ellerslie Road) was 18.5 °C, which is 0.3 °C below the long-term average of 18.8 °C.
  • The warmest day was 28.1 °C on the 10th, and the coolest day was on the 15th when the temperature reached 11.9 °C.
  • The mean daily minimum temperature for Hobart (Ellerslie Road) was 9.3 °C, which is 0.1 °C below the long-term average of 9.4 °C.
  • The coldest morning was 4.1 °C on the 2nd, and the warmest morning was on the 11th when the minimum temperature was 16.9 °C.

Snow, flooding and strong winds

  • With saturated soil from a wet October, minor flooding persisted on Macquarie and Meander rivers until the 8th.
  • From 14–16 November significant rainfall across Tasmania triggered Moderate flood warnings for the Macquarie, South Esk and Jordan rivers, Minor warnings for the Meander North Esk and Huon rivers and a Flood Watch for the South East, East Coastal, Huon and Derwent Catchments.
  • Cold air behind a front brought light snow to higher elevations across Tasmania on the 1 November. On the 15th, snow settled across elevated regions down to around 300–400 m, including Vinces Saddle on the Huon Highway, kunanyi / Mount Wellington, and around Oatlands.
  • A cold outbreak with multiple fronts brought strong winds, hail and snow to low levels across elevated regions on the 19th, and up to 15 cm of snow covered the ground at Mount Mawson on the 21st.
  • Strong winds on the 21st included gusts recorded up to 130 km/h at Cape Grim and up to 131 km/h at Hogan Island, the eighth-highest November wind gust on record for the site. The strongest wind gust was 133 km/h at kunanyi (Mount Wellington Pinnacle) on the 22nd.
  • On the 27th a cold front brought wind gusts in excess of 100 km/h at some locations in the south. Gusts up to 102 km/h were recorded at kunanyi (Mount Wellington Pinnacle) and up to 120 km/h at Maatsuyker Island Lighthouse.

Further information

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Extremes in November 2022
Hottest day 30.4 °C at Scotts Peak Dam on the 9th
Warmest days on average 20.5 °C at Launceston (Ti Tree Bend)
Coolest days on average 8.7 °C at kunanyi (Mount Wellington Pinnacle)
Coldest day -0.3 °C at kunanyi (Mount Wellington Pinnacle) on the 15th
Coldest night -4.3 °C at kunanyi (Mount Wellington Pinnacle) on the 22nd
Coolest nights on average 1.0 °C at kunanyi (Mount Wellington Pinnacle)
Warmest nights on average 11.2 °C at Swan Island
Warmest night 17.2 °C at Cape Sorell on the 10th
Warmest on average overall 14.5 °C at Launceston (Ti Tree Bend)
Coolest on average overall 4.8 °C at kunanyi (Mount Wellington Pinnacle)
Wettest overall 414.6 mm at Lake Margaret Dam
Wettest day 69.6 mm at Fortescue Bay on the 16th
Strongest wind gust 133 km/h at kunanyi (Mount Wellington Pinnacle) on the 22nd

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 November daily rainfall
New record
(mm)
Old
record
Years of
record
Scotts Peak Dam 68.2 on the 15th 53.0 on the 26th in 2015 25
Mount Dromedary 56.0 on the 25th 39.4 on the 22nd in 2008 24
York Plains (Inverell) 36.4 on the 12th 31.2 on the 9th in 2013 21
Poatina 42.4 on the 20th 39.2 on the 14th in 2010 20



Record highest November total rainfall
New record
(mm)
Old
record
Years of
record
Average for
November
Scotts Peak Dam 239.4 225.4 in 2019 23 116.8
Cygnet (Synotts Road) 123.2 97.2 in 2013 20 61.1

Highest November total rainfall for at least 20 years
Observed
(mm)
Most recent
higher
Average for
November
Orford (Aubin Court) 184.4 194.6 in 1969 66.6
Eaglehawk Neck (Jetty Road) 166.2 173.6 in 2001 67.6
Woodbridge 117.6 127.2 in 2001 75.0
Dover 108.6 110.6 in 2001* 71.8

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




Record lowest November daily maximum temperature
New record
(°C)
Old
record
Years of
record
Average for
November
Orford (Aubin Court) 10.9 on the 15th 11.0 on the 15th in 2021 55 18.8
Tasman Island 7.9 on the 15th 8.0 on the 15th in 2021 21 15.3



Record lowest November mean daily maximum temperature
New record
(°C)
Old
record
Years of
record
Average for
November
Liawenee 12.7 12.8 in 2019 21 15.1

Lowest November mean daily maximum temperature for at least 20 years
Observed
(°C)
Most recent
lower
Average for
November
Mount Read 8.8 7.4 in 1996* 10.8
Wynyard Airport 17.6 17.4 in 2001 18.2

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




Record lowest November mean daily minimum temperature
New record
(°C)
Old
record
Years of
record
Average for
November
Campania (Kincora) 7.2 = 7.2 in 2021 22 8.7



Lowest November mean temperature for at least 20 years
Observed
(°C)
Most recent
lower
Average for
November
Bushy Park (Bushy Park Estates) 13.2 12.5 in 1999 13.8
Tunnack Fire Station 10.3 9.7 in 1999 11.8



Summary statistics for November 2022
Maximum temperatures
(°C)
Minimum temperatures
(°C)
Rainfall
(millimetres)
Mean for
November
2022
Diff
from
average
Highest for
November
2022
Mean for
November
2022
Diff
from
average
Lowest for
November
2022
Total for
November
2022
Average
for
November
Rank of
November
2022
Fraction of
November
average
Northern (district 91)
Cape Grim 14.8 -1.0 18.6 10th 9.9 -0.9 4.9 22nd 81.4 62.3 high 131%
Cape Grim BAPS (Comparison) 15.4 -0.7 19.2 7th 9.8 -0.8 5.6 22nd 58.8 53.0 average 111%
Devonport Airport 18.0 0.0 21.9 30th 8.7 -0.6 2.5 16th 80.0 56.4 high 142%
Launceston (Ti Tree Bend) 20.5 -0.1 26.9 9th 8.4 -0.7 2.3 2nd 58.4 51.3 average 114%
Launceston Airport 19.1 -1.2 26.3 9th 6.3 -1.4 0.9 2nd 58.2 53.6 average 109%
Low Head 17.0 -0.4 20.2 8th 10.6 -0.8 7.1 2nd 94.6 52.2 high 181%
Luncheon Hill (Forestry) 16.5 -0.8 26.2 9th 6.9 -0.9 2.0 2nd 140.8 93.7 high 150%
Marrawah 16.2 -0.5 22.3 8th 9.2 -0.1 4.8 22nd 93.4 69.8 high 134%
Scottsdale (West Minstone Road) 18.1 -0.8 25.0 9th 7.3 -0.6 2.3 22nd 104.6 67.8 high 154%
Sheffield School Farm 17.0 -1.0 22.7 9th 6.7 -0.9 1.7 2nd 71.4 79.7 average 90%
Smithton Aerodrome 17.6 -0.8 22.2 10th 7.8 -0.9 1.5 17th 91.8 60.1 high 153%
Wynyard Airport 17.6 -0.6 23.6 11th 7.9 -0.4 2.8 2nd 107.4 73.5 high 146%
East Coast (district 92)
Bicheno (Council Depot) 17.6 -0.8 21.2 22nd 9.8 -0.5 3.5 2nd 116.3 62.3 high 187%
Fingal (Fleming St) 18.1   25.7 8th 5.9   0.9 2nd 103.6
Friendly Beaches 19.6 -0.4 25.3 11th 9.0 -1.3 4.0 2nd 181.6 72.4 v high 251%
larapuna (Eddystone Point) 18.4 +0.6 23.7 6th 10.1 -0.4 4.3 22nd 129.6 61.1 v high 212%
Maria Island (Point Lesueur) 16.7 -1.4 22.1 8th 10.0 -1.0 5.3 22nd 119.4 59.2 v high 202%
St Helens Aerodrome 18.7 -0.8 24.3 6th 9.1 -1.2 4.6 22nd 104.4 79.9 average 131%
Swan Island 17.5 -0.3 21.0 26th 11.2 -0.8 7.1 3rd 67.0 59.6 average 112%
Swansea (Francis Street) 18.4 -1.2 22.9 8th 8.1 -1.4 3.8 2nd 115.2 68.4 high 168%
Midlands (district 93)
Ross (The Boulevards) 18.7 -1.3 25.9 9th 5.5 -1.5 -0.4 17th 90.8 46.0 high 197%
Southeast (district 94)
Campania (Kincora) 18.8 -1.9 27.7 8th 7.2 -1.5 2.2 2nd 64.6 46.1 high 140%
Cape Bruny (Cape Bruny) 16.4 -0.7 27.7 10th 9.2 -0.5 4.3 22nd 81.0 56.9 high 142%
Dennes Point 17.0 -1.5 23.4 10th 9.7 -0.5 5.5 22nd 53.0 46.2 average 115%
Dover 17.4 -0.5 28.6 10th 7.3 -0.6 2.6 22nd 108.6 71.8 high 151%
Dunalley (Stroud Point) 17.4 -1.3 23.4 10th 9.6 -1.2 4.5 22nd 89.6 46.4 v high 193%
Grove (Research Station) 18.0 -1.3 27.9 10th 6.2 -1.2 0.2 2nd 39.2 57.4 low 68%
Hobart (Ellerslie Road) 18.5 -0.3 28.1 10th 9.3 -0.1 4.1 2nd 78.6 54.3 high 145%
Hobart Airport 18.3   27.1 8th 9.1   4.9 2nd 65.2
kunanyi (Mount Wellington Pinnacle) 8.7 -0.8 19.8 8th 1.0 -0.8 -4.3 22nd 66.8 86.5 average 77%
Maatsuyker Island Lighthouse 14.1 -0.3 26.8 10th 8.6 +0.1 4.0 2nd 93.2 90.8 average 103%
Tasman Island 13.9 -1.4 19.6 11th 8.6 -0.4 4.0 22nd 18.8 57.3 low 33%
Tunnack Fire Station 15.8 -1.6 24.1 9th 4.8 -1.4 0.0 2nd 77.2 61.5 high 126%
Derwent Valley (district 95)
Bushy Park (Bushy Park Estates) 19.6 -0.4 29.0 10th 6.7 -0.9 1.2 2nd 39.4 52.0 average 76%
Ouse Fire Station 19.2 -1.8 27.9 9th 6.6 -0.7 2.2 2nd 23.6 38.3 low 62%
Central Plateau (district 96)
Butlers Gorge 13.7 -1.0 25.0 9th 3.2 -0.8 -1.2 16th 147.6 136.2 average 108%
Liawenee 12.7 -2.4 21.0 9th 2.0 -0.8 -2.5 2nd 91.4 62.3 average 147%
West Coast (district 97)
Cape Sorell 16.9 +1.2 27.8 9th 9.9 +0.2 5.7 16th 97.6 86.8 average 112%
Hartz Mountain (Keoghs Pimple) 11.5 -2.3 24.6 9th 3.3 -1.1 -1.5 22nd 99.6 78.3 high 127%
Low Rocky Point 16.5 -0.3 28.6 10th 9.1 -0.5 5.9 2nd 86.6 81.4 average 106%
Mount Read 8.8 -2.0 21.1 9th 2.2 -1.0 -3.1 22nd 366.2 240.8 high 152%
Scotts Peak Dam 16.1 -1.7 30.4 9th 5.9 -1.0 0.2 22nd 239.4 116.8 highest 205%
Strahan Aerodrome 17.5 -0.6 28.4 10th 8.6 +0.1 4.1 18th 117.2 96.2 average 122%
Warra 14.3 -1.6 25.8 10th 5.1 -0.9 0.5 15th 139.6 121.8 average 115%
King Island (district 98)
King Island Airport 17.8 +0.2 24.8 8th 9.3 -0.9 2.5 18th 71.2 55.3 high 129%
Flinders Island (district 99)
Flinders Island Airport 17.9 -0.8 23.0 13th 10.6 +0.3 4.4 17th 57.4 55.0 average 104%
Hogan Island 16.9 -1.5 22.0 7th 10.7 -1.2 3.9 22nd 98.6 46.7 high 211%
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, usually published in the first week of the following 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 3 pm on Thursday 1 December 2022. 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.

Information about Australian Indigenous seasonal calendars is available at the Indigenous Weather Knowledge website.

Further information

Media
(03) 9669 4057

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