Friday, 3 March 2023 - Monthly Climate Summary for Tasmania - Product code IDCKGC17R0

Tasmania in February 2023: warm with patchy storms

Rainfall was close to average in February for Tasmania. It was a generally warmer than average month with patches of heavy rain and periods of both hot and cold weather. Thunderstorms brought the highest falls of rain. Maximum temperatures were more than 12 °C above average on the 17th and up to 12 °C above average on the 24th, with heatwave warnings issued in the lead up to and including those days.

Close to average rainfall

• For Tasmania overall, the February total rainfall of 58.18 mm was 8.3% below the 1961-1990 February average.
• Most of Tasmania received near-average rainfall. Central parts had below average rainfall, while for the far north-east and King Island rainfall was above average.
• A low pressure system near the east coast brought heavy rainfall and thunderstorms about the south-east on 26 February, making it the wettest day of the month. Tasman Island received around 30 mm in an hour, which was part of a new highest February daily rainfall on record for Tasman Island, from 22 years of data. Record highest February daily rainfall was also recorded on the 26th at Fortescue Bay.
• Tasman Island had its highest total February rainfall on record

Warmer than average days

• For Tasmania overall, the mean maximum temperature was 0.33 °C above the 1961-1990 February average of 20.11 °C, making it cooler than February 2022 but warmer than February 2021. Nights were 0.15 °C above the February average of 9.56 °C.
• The passage of several cold fronts saw maximum temperatures up to 6 °C below average on 5 of the first 8 days of the month. High pressure systems over the Tasman Sea brought northerly winds and high temperatures across Tasmania 3 times during February: 10-11, 16-17 and 24-25. Warnings were issued for low, severe and areas of extreme heatwave.
• Swan Island had its highest February temperature on record. Sheffield School Farm had its coldest February day (lowest maximum temperature) on record on the 2nd and its lowest February temperature on record on the 3rd.

Hobart (Ellerslie Road)

• Total rainfall for Hobart (Ellerslie Road) was 48.6 mm, which is 124% of the long-term average of 39.2 mm
• The mean daily maximum temperature for Hobart (Ellerslie Road) was 23.4 °C, which is 1.7 °C above the long-term average of 21.7 °C
• The warmest day was 36.7 °C on the 17th, and the coolest day was on the 8th when the temperature reached 16.1 °C
• The mean daily minimum temperature for Hobart (Ellerslie Road) was 13.2 °C, which is 1.1 °C above the long-term average of 12.1 °C
• The coldest morning was 7.6 °C on the 3rd, and the warmest morning was on the 25th when the minimum temperature was 19.2 °C

First Fire Weather Warning and Total Fire Ban

• High fire danger conditions were forecast for 12 February.
• Fire danger ratings were forecast as High for many districts from 17-24 February. Areas of Extreme fire danger were forecast for 24 and 25 February, particularly for the East Coast district. On 25 February, the first Fire Weather Warning of the summer was issued - for the East Coast fire weather district - and the first Total Fire Ban of the summer was issued - for Southern parts of the state.

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