Wednesday, 5 June 2024 - Monthly Climate Summary for Tasmania - Product code IDCKGC17R0
Tasmania in May 2024
Rainfall
- Rainfall was very much below average across most of the western half of Tasmania, but close to average for most of the east coast, and above average for an area around Bicheno.
- Marrawah and King Island Airport had their lowest May rainfall on record, with 54 and 49 years of data respectively.
- The area-averaged rainfall total for Tasmania was 54% below the 1961-1990 average for May, and the lowest since 2001.
- Some stations in the centre, north and west had less than half their average rainfall for May.
- A couple of sites had their highest May daily rainfall on record on the 31st when a rainband crossed the north.
Temperature
- Maximum temperatures were higher than average for most of the state, and in the warmest 10% of records for May across the north and north-west.
- The mean maximum temperature for Tasmania was 0.76 °C warmer than the 1961-1990 average and the highest since 2014.
- Minimum temperatures were close to average for most of the state and higher than average in the south and along the east coast.
- The mean minimum temperature for Tasmania was -0.04 °C cooler than the 1961-1990 average.
- Several sites in the Northern District had their highest May mean daily maximum temperature on record, and others their highest May mean daily maximum temperature for at least 20 years.
- A couple of sites had their lowest May temperature on record.
Hobart (Ellerslie Road)
- Total rainfall for Hobart (Ellerslie Road) was 32.0 mm, which is 68% of the long-term average of 47.3 mm.
- The mean daily maximum temperature for Hobart (Ellerslie Road) was 15.3 °C, which is 0.8 °C above the long-term average of 14.5 °C.
- The warmest day was 21.1 °C on the 30th, and the coolest day was on the 18th when the temperature reached 11.4 °C.
- The mean daily minimum temperature for Hobart (Ellerslie Road) was 7.8 °C, which is 0.8 °C above the long-term average of 7.0 °C.
- The coldest morning was 3.3 °C on the 26th, and the warmest morning was on the 31st when the minimum temperature was 13.7 °C.
Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top
| Extremes in May 2024 | |
|---|---|
| Hottest day | 22.4 °C at Swansea (Francis Street) on the 30th |
| Warmest days on average |
17.1 °C at Flinders Island Airport 17.1 °C at Launceston (Ti Tree Bend) |
| Coolest days on average | 5.5 °C at kunanyi (Mount Wellington Pinnacle) |
| Coldest day | -0.1 °C at kunanyi (Mount Wellington Pinnacle) on the 17th |
| Coldest night | -8.0 °C at Liawenee on the 2nd |
| Coolest nights on average | -0.4 °C at Liawenee |
| Warmest nights on average | 12.0 °C at Hogan Island |
| Warmest night | 15.1 °C at King Island Airport on the 11th |
| Warmest on average overall | 14.2 °C at Hogan Island |
| Coolest on average overall | 3.3 °C at kunanyi (Mount Wellington Pinnacle) |
| Wettest overall | 212.8 mm at Lake Margaret Dam |
| Wettest day | 67.6 mm at Mount Barrow (South Barrow) on the 31st |
| Strongest wind gust | 152 km/h at kunanyi (Mount Wellington Pinnacle) on the 31st |
Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top
| Maps | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Observed | Anomaly | Decile rank | |
| Total rainfall |
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| Mean daily maximum temperatures |
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| Mean daily minimum temperatures |
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Click on a map to show it full size in a pop-up window
| Record highest May daily rainfall | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
New record (mm) |
Old record |
Years of record |
||||
| Mount Barrow (South Barrow) | 67.6 | on the 31st | 66.5 | on the 24th in 1968 | 30 | |
| Poatina | 41.2 | on the 31st | 36.6 | on the 5th in 2015 | 21 | |
| Record highest May mean daily maximum temperature | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
New record (°C) |
Old record |
Years of record |
Average for May |
||
| Launceston (Ti Tree Bend) | 17.1 | 16.8 | in 2009 | 42 | 15.8 |
| Devonport Airport | 16.7 | 16.4 | in 2007 | 32 | 15.4 |
| Sheffield School Farm | 14.9 | 14.6 | in 2003 | 27 | 13.5 |
| Highest May mean daily maximum temperature for at least 20 years | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Observed (°C) |
Most recent higher |
Average for May |
|||
| Scottsdale (West Minstone Road) | 15.8 | 16.1 | in 2002 | 14.8 | |
| Luncheon Hill (Forestry) | 14.6 | 14.7 | in 2003 | 12.9 | |
| Record lowest May temperature | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
New record (°C) |
Old record |
Years of record |
Average for May |
|||
| King Island Airport | 1.0 | on the 18th | 1.2 | on the 22nd in 2010 | 29 | 9.4 |
| Smithton Aerodrome | -3.4 | on the 18th | -2.9 | on the 10th in 2011 | 28 | 6.3 |
Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top
| Summary statistics for May 2024 | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maximum temperatures (°C) |
Minimum temperatures (°C) |
Rainfall (millimetres) |
||||||||||
| Mean for May 2024 |
Diff from average |
Highest for May 2024 |
Mean for May 2024 |
Diff from average |
Lowest for May 2024 |
Total for May 2024 |
Average for May |
Rank of May 2024 |
Fraction of May average |
|||
| Northern (district 91) | ||||||||||||
| Cressy (Brumbys Creek) | 15.4 | 18.5 | 28th | 2.7 | -3.8 | 21st | 47.2 | |||||
| Devonport Airport | 16.7 | +1.3 | 19.2 | 9th | 6.8 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 18th | 26.2 | 72.2 | low | 36% |
| Kennaook/Cape Grim | 14.9 | +0.5 | 17.1 | 28th | 9.9 | -0.3 | 3.6 | 18th | 19.4 | 96.2 | v low | 20% |
| Launceston (Ti Tree Bend) | 17.1 | +1.3 | 20.6 | 9th | 4.1 | -1.0 | -0.8 | 21st | 35.4 | 62.7 | low | 56% |
| Launceston Airport | 15.5 | +0.8 | 18.6 | 30th | 4.1 | -0.2 | -1.7 | 26th | 34.8 | 52.8 | average | 66% |
| Low Head | 16.3 | +1.0 | 19.0 | 9th | 9.1 | -0.3 | 4.0 | 18th | 29.2 | 61.4 | low | 48% |
| Luncheon Hill (Forestry) | 14.6 | +1.7 | 18.9 | 9th | 6.9 | -0.1 | 0.5 | 18th | 52.0 | 162.7 | lowest | 32% |
| Marrawah | 15.5 | +0.8 | 18.2 | 28th | 8.9 | -0.2 | 2.8 | 18th | 26.8 | 109.7 | lowest | 24% |
| Scottsdale (West Minstone Road) | 15.8 | +1.0 | 18.5 | 9th | 6.0 | +0.1 | 2.4 | 23rd | 60.4 | 94.5 | low | 64% |
| Sheffield School Farm | 14.9 | +1.4 | 18.7 | 28th | 4.7 | -0.6 | -0.5 | 21st | 45.4 | 91.7 | low | 50% |
| Smithton Aerodrome | 16.6 | +1.2 | 19.4 | 10th | 5.3 | -1.0 | -3.4 | 18th | 19.2 | 89.0 | lowest | 22% |
| Wynyard Airport | 16.3 | +1.1 | 19.5 | 28th | 5.1 | -0.3 | -2.0 | 21st | 41.2 | 94.6 | low | 44% |
| East Coast (district 92) | ||||||||||||
| Bicheno (Council Depot) | 16.5 | -0.1 | 20.5 | 30th | 9.3 | +0.8 | 5.5 | 18th | 83.6 | 55.4 | high | 151% |
| Fingal (Fleming St) | 15.1 | 19.1 | 28th | 2.6 | -2.5 | 21st | 46.4 | |||||
| Friendly Beaches | 16.0 | -0.1 | 21.4 | 30th | 8.2 | +0.1 | 2.6 | 26th | 70.2 | 53.4 | high | 131% |
| larapuna (Eddystone Point) | 16.9 | +1.3 | 19.3 | 10th | 10.6 | +1.2 | 6.7 | 18th | 66.2 | 64.4 | average | 103% |
| Maria Island (Point Lesueur) | 15.0 | -0.1 | 18.9 | 30th | 10.1 | +0.5 | 6.1 | 18th | 40.8 | 42.8 | average | 95% |
| St Helens Aerodrome | 16.3 | +0.2 | 19.6 | 30th | 8.0 | +0.8 | 3.0 | 26th | 78.2 | 49.2 | high | 159% |
| Swan Island | 16.5 | +0.6 | 18.9 | 30th | 11.4 | +0.6 | 6.7 | 18th | 38.6 | 53.2 | average | 73% |
| Swansea (Francis Street) | 15.6 | -0.5 | 22.4 | 30th | 6.7 | +0.3 | 0.4 | 26th | 42.2 | 41.8 | average | 101% |
| Midlands (district 93) | ||||||||||||
| Ross (The Boulevards) | 14.3 | 0.0 | 16.7 | 30th | 1.8 | -1.4 | -5.0 | 21st | 41.6 | 32.5 | high | 128% |
| Southeast (district 94) | ||||||||||||
| Campania (Kincora) | 15.5 | -0.4 | 19.0 | 30th | 5.6 | -0.1 | 0.2 | 26th | 28.8 | 36.7 | average | 78% |
| Cape Bruny (Cape Bruny) | 14.6 | +0.3 | 20.0 | 29th | 9.1 | +0.5 | 5.3 | 25th | 61.4 | 69.1 | average | 89% |
| Dennes Point | 15.3 | +0.3 | 19.7 | 29th | 8.8 | +0.3 | 4.5 | 26th | 28.2 | 49.5 | average | 57% |
| Dover | 14.8 | +0.2 | 20.4 | 29th | 5.3 | -0.4 | 0.5 | 26th | 42.2 | 72.7 | low | 58% |
| Dunalley (Stroud Point) | 15.2 | 0.0 | 20.7 | 30th | 8.8 | +0.1 | 4.3 | 26th | 24.4 | 53.0 | v low | 46% |
| Grove (Research Station) | 15.0 | 0.0 | 20.8 | 30th | 4.1 | -0.2 | -1.1 | 18th | 28.4 | 67.2 | v low | 42% |
| Hobart (Ellerslie Road) | 15.3 | +0.8 | 21.1 | 30th | 7.8 | +0.8 | 3.3 | 26th | 32.0 | 47.3 | average | 68% |
| Hobart Airport | 15.4 | 19.5 | 30th | 7.1 | 1.9 | 26th | 31.4 | |||||
| kunanyi (Mount Wellington Pinnacle) | 5.5 | -0.2 | 9.6 | 29th | 1.0 | +0.4 | -3.7 | 18th | 114.6 | 73.0 | high | 157% |
| Maatsuyker Island Lighthouse | 13.1 | +0.3 | 18.9 | 30th | 9.2 | +0.7 | 5.6 | 18th | 68.0 | 115.8 | low | 59% |
| Tasman Island | 13.2 | 0.0 | 17.8 | 30th | 9.0 | +0.4 | 4.4 | 18th | 60.4 | 70.7 | average | 85% |
| Tunnack Fire Station | 12.2 | -0.1 | 16.1 | 15th | 3.0 | -0.6 | -3.6 | 20th | 21.6 | 46.6 | v low | 46% |
| Derwent Valley (district 95) | ||||||||||||
| Bushy Park (Bushy Park Estates) | 15.5 | +1.1 | 21.0 | 30th | 2.8 | -1.2 | -2.9 | 21st | 17.0 | 45.7 | low | 37% |
| Ouse Fire Station | 15.4 | +0.6 | 21.5 | 30th | 3.3 | -0.2 | -4.3 | 21st | 17.6 | 38.5 | low | 46% |
| Central Plateau (district 96) | ||||||||||||
| Butlers Gorge | 10.9 | +0.9 | 15.8 | 30th | 1.8 | 0.0 | -4.7 | 18th | 48.8 | 161.1 | v low | 30% |
| Liawenee | 9.7 | +0.7 | 13.9 | 28th | -0.4 | -0.6 | -8.0 | 2nd | 49.0 | 82.6 | low | 59% |
| West Coast (district 97) | ||||||||||||
| Cape Sorell | 15.2 | +1.4 | 19.0 | 8th | 9.5 | +0.4 | 4.5 | 18th | 42.0 | 129.1 | v low | 33% |
| Hartz Mountain (Keoghs Pimple) | 8.7 | +0.3 | 14.6 | 30th | 3.5 | +0.1 | -1.1 | 18th | 47.2 | 90.9 | low | 52% |
| Low Rocky Point | 14.7 | +0.5 | 20.0 | 30th | 8.8 | -0.2 | 5.6 | 3rd | 102.2 | 141.6 | low | 72% |
| Mount Read | 7.0 | +0.6 | 10.9 | 10th | 2.3 | +0.1 | -3.1 | 18th | 209.2 | 429.2 | v low | 49% |
| Scotts Peak Dam | 12.2 | +0.6 | 17.9 | 30th | 5.4 | -0.1 | 1.7 | 18th | 83.0 | 188.6 | v low | 44% |
| Strahan Aerodrome | 14.9 | +0.6 | 19.5 | 30th | 6.2 | -1.3 | 0.1 | 18th | 54.2 | 158.7 | v low | 34% |
| Warra | 11.1 | +0.1 | 15.9 | 29th | 4.5 | -0.1 | -0.7 | 18th | 80.8 | 166.1 | v low | 49% |
| King Island (district 98) | ||||||||||||
| King Island Airport | 16.6 | +1.0 | 18.9 | 9th | 9.3 | -0.1 | 1.0 | 18th | 17.8 | 87.8 | lowest | 20% |
| Flinders Island (district 99) | ||||||||||||
| Flinders Island Airport | 17.1 | +0.8 | 20.5 | 30th | 7.7 | -1.3 | 1.1 | 21st | 22.6 | 76.9 | v low | 29% |
| Hogan Island | 16.3 | +0.7 | 18.2 | 2nd | 12.0 | +0.7 | 8.9 | 18th | 26.0 | 57.6 | low | 45% |
| Note: From 2017, information about Macquarie Island can be found in the climate summary for the Remote Islands and Antarctica | ||||||||||||
Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top
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.
This statement has been prepared based on information available at 8 am on Sunday 2 June 2024. 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.
Unless otherwise noted, all maps, graphs and diagrams in this page are licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International Licence
