Tuesday, 3 March 2009 - Seasonal Climate Summary for Tasmania - Product code IDCKGC17R0

Tasmania in summer 2008−09: cool, except for a few exceptionally hot days

Tasmania registered its highest temperature on record during the summer of 2008−09, but cool weather dominated the season. Overall rain was close to average over much of the state, but below average in the central north, Midlands and the southeast. Damaging winds, flooding rain and large hail were also features of summer.

Monthly summaries have also been prepared for December, January and February.

An archive of previous seasonal summaries for Tasmania is also available, as are summaries for other states and many other climate summaries and diagnostics.

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Details

Mostly cool temperatures: Cooler than usual temperatures dominated during summer. Over the whole season, most locations were cooler than normal by around half to one degree at night and half a degree during the day (although a few sites were slightly warmer than usual). There were several very cold nights, but only a few warm ones. Liawenee had the third coldest summer temperature ever recorded on the 10th of December, when it fell to −4.5°C. It was one of seven occasions when temperatures below −3°C were recorded this summer; in a usual summer this doesn't happen at all. Lake Leake fell to −2.7°C on the 4th of December, its coldest summer temperature on record, and Swansea had its coolest mean overnight temperature in summer since 1986. There were several extended runs of cool days: the first three weeks of December, the two weeks from 29 December, and the second week of February all saw temperatures below average, and often struggling to reach 20°C. Snow fell on the highlands at both the start and end of December, and at the start of January. However, there were also some very hot days, especially at the end January.

Record hot days: Despite the generally cool summer, the record for Tasmania's highest temperature was smashed at several places late in January. Between the 28th and 31st of January a heatwave affected northern Tasmania and temperatures over 40°C were recorded by seven sites on the 29th and 30th. This is only the second time in history temperatures in Tasmania have been so hot on two consecutive days. A new all time Tasmanian record of 41.5°C was set by Flinders Island on the 29th, but on the 30th it was beaten by Ross (41.6°C), St Helens (41.8 °C) and Scamander (42.2°C). The previous Tasmanian record was 40.8 °C at Hobart on 4 January 1976. Several other sites had their highest temperature on record, with many beating previous records by 2 or 3 degrees. Overnight temperatures were also very warm during this period, especially on the morning of the 30th when nowhere in Tasmania fell below 16°C and many sites had their warmest summer night on record.

Dry in the southeast, Midlands and central north: Several cold fronts and heavy rain from low pressure systems on the 13th of December and 24th of February led to near average summer rainfall in much of the west, southwest and east, but it was another relatively dry season in the southeast, Midlands and central north. Many sites in these areas have had their driest three years on record, and there has been no widespread above average rainfall since spring 2005. The driest locations this season were in the central north; the lowest total was 64.4 mm at Deloraine, and Devonport Airport and Ulverstone had their driest summer since 1983. Many sites in the southeast had their driest summer since 2002.

Severe weather events: Damaging winds, flooding rain and large hail were all features of summer. The stand out event occurred on the 22nd January when an approaching front caused winds to gust over 100 km/h at several sites, peaking at 150 km/h on Mount Wellington (the non-standard anemometer on Droughty Hill registered 157 km/h). Widespread damage was sustained across the state, over 27,000 premises lost power and a fire caused the Midlands Highway to close for a period during the day. There were also damaging winds in the northeast on the 13th December, when a low pressure system intensified near Flinders Island. But heavy rain was the principal feature of this event, resulting in moderate flooding in the middle reaches of South Esk River on 14th and minor flooding of the Break O’Day and St Pauls rivers. St Marys recorded 173 mm over two days. Northeastern Tasmania was also the location of severe thunderstorms on the 31st January. Hail as large as tennis balls fell at Gray, and significant localised damage was reported.

Further information

Ian Barnes-Keoghan
Meteorologist
Tasmania and Antarctica Climate Services Centre
Bureau of Meteorology
Phone (03) 6221 2043
Email climate.tas@bom.gov.au

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Extremes

Hottest day Highest temperature	42.2°C at Scamander on 30 Jan 2009
Warmest days on average Highest mean daily maximum temperature	24.1°C at Cressy Research Station
Coolest days on average Lowest mean daily maximum temperature	12.1°C at Mount Wellington
Coldest day Lowest daily maximum temperature	2.1°C at Mount Wellington on 16 Jan 2009
Coldest night Lowest temperature	−4.5°C at Liawenee on 10 Dec 2008
Coolest nights on average Lowest mean daily minimum temperature	3.3°C at Mount Wellington
Warmest nights on average Highest mean daily minimum temperature	13.6°C at Swan Island
Warmest night Highest daily minimum temperature	24.0°C at Melton Mowbray (North Stockman) on 30 Jan 2009
Wettest overall Highest total rainfall	782.0 mm at Mount Read
Driest overall Lowest total rainfall	64.4 mm at Deloraine Railway Bridge (Meander River)
Wettest day Highest daily rainfall	111.4 mm at Goshen on 14 Dec 2008
Highest wind gust	150 km/h at Mount Wellington on 22 Jan 2009

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Records

Lowest total summer rainfall for at least 20 years
	Total rainfall for summer 2008−09 (mm)	Most recent lower for summer		Years since lower	Average for summer
Devonport Airport	72.9	44.0	in 1983	23	131.5
Ulverstone (Knights Road)	79.5	50.8	in 1983	22	149.9

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Record highest summer temperature
	Highest temperature in summer 2008−09 (°C)		Previous highest for summer		Years of record	Average for summer
Launceston Airport Comparison	39.9	on 30 Jan 2009	37.3	on 28 Jan 1943	70	22.5
Flinders Island Airport	41.5	on 29 Jan 2009 *	38.8	on 25 Jan 2003	47	21.6
Burnie (Round Hill)	33.8	on 31 Jan 2009	32.8	on 20 Jan 1982	45	20.6
Scottsdale (West Minstone Road)	37.7	on 30 Jan 2009	35.9	on 1 Feb 1983	37	22.2
Launceston (Ti Tree Bend)	39.0	on 30 Jan 2009	35.4	on 11 Jan 1982	27	23.7
Scamander	42.2	on 30 Jan 2009 *	39.8	on 1 Feb 1983	26	21.3
Wynyard Airport	35.1	on 31 Jan 2009	32.6	on 3 Feb 2000	24	20.7
Fingal (Legge Street)	41.3	on 30 Jan 2009 *	38.0	on 25 Jan 2003	23	22.5
Lake Leake (Elizabeth River)	36.2	on 30 Jan 2009	33.9	on 25 Jan 2003	20	18.6

All these temperatures are also annual records (that is, they are the highest temperatures recorded at these locations).
* These locations all exceeded the previous Tasmanian record of 40.8 °C set in Hobart on 4 January 1976. The old record was also exceeded at St Helens (41.8°C), Ross (41.6°C) and Cressy (41.4°C), but they have been open for less than 20 years and so are not included in the table above.

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Record highest summer daily minimum temperature
	Highest daily minimum temperature in summer 2008−09 (°C)		Previous highest for summer		Years of record	Average for summer
Launceston Airport Comparison	20.7	on 30 Jan 2009	20.0	on 1 Feb 1968	70	9.8
Scottsdale (West Minstone Road)	21.3	on 30 Jan 2009	20.0	on 21 Jan 1997	37	10.3
Launceston (Ti Tree Bend)	20.9	on 30 Jan 2009	20.3	on 14 Jan 1998	27	11.6
Tarraleah Village	20.9	on 30 Jan 2009	20.7	on 12 Dec 1998	26	6.7
Fingal (Legge Street)	20.9	on 30 Jan 2009	19.5	on 9 Feb 2001	23	9.6

All these temperatures are also annual records.

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Record lowest summer temperature
	Lowest temperature in summer 2008−09 (°C)		Previous lowest for summer		Years of record	Average for summer
Lake Leake (Elizabeth River)	−2.7	on 4 Dec 2008	−1.6	on 24 Jan 2000	20	7.8

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Lowest summer mean daily minimum temperature for at least 20 years
	Mean daily minimum temperature for summer 2008−09 (°C)	Most recent lower for summer		Years since lower	Average for summer
Swansea Post Office	10.8	10.4	in 1986	22	11.4

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Summaries

In this table, key sites have been highlighted to make them easier to find. This table is very wide and may not fit if printed.

Summary statistics for summer 2008−09
	Maximum temperatures for summer (°C)				Minimum temperatures for summer (°C)				Rainfall for summer (millimetres)
	Mean for summer 2008−09	Diff from average	Highest for summer 2008−09		Mean for summer 2008−09	Diff from average	Lowest for summer 2008−09		Total for summer 2008−09	Average for summer	Rank of summer 2008−09	Fraction of summer average
Northern (district 91)
Bridport	20.6	−0.8	31.0	30 Jan 2009	11.7	−0.8	4.5	4 Dec 2008	109.1	125.5	average	87%
Burnie	20.8	+0.2	33.8	31 Jan 2009	12.5	+0.2	5.5	10 Dec 2008	83.8	151.6	low	55%
Cape Grim BAPS	18.2	−0.4	30.5	29 Jan 2009	12.4	−0.5	7.4	2 Jan 2009	119.0	112.3	average	106%
Cressy Research Station	24.1		41.4	30 Jan 2009	8.9		−2.2	4 Dec 2008	80.8
Devonport Airport	20.7	0.0	29.7	29 Jan 2009	11.1	−0.7	2.1	10 Dec 2008	72.9	131.5	very low	55%
Launceston	23.7	0.0	39.0	30 Jan 2009	11.4	−0.3	2.2	4 Dec 2008	105.8	123.7	average	86%
Launceston Airport	23.4		40.4	30 Jan 2009	9.4		0.8	4 Dec 2008	104.6
Launceston Airport Comparison	22.6	+0.1	39.9	30 Jan 2009	9.8	0.0	1.6	4 Dec 2008	114.2	133.5	average	86%
Low Head	19.3	−0.8	26.3	29 Jan 2009	13.1	−0.7	8.4	11 Dec 2008	67.8	117.0	very low	58%
Luncheon Hill	18.5	−1.6	35.4	30 Jan 2009	8.3	−1.6	1.0	10 Dec 2008	224.8	224.0	average	100%
Marrawah	19.4	−0.4	33.0	29 Jan 2009	11.2	−0.4	6.2	10 Dec 2008	149.2	156.2	average	96%
Scottsdale	21.8	−0.4	37.7	30 Jan 2009	9.8	−0.6	0.8	4 Dec 2008	116.6	165.4	low	70%
Sheffield School Farm	21.2	+0.2	37.1	30 Jan 2009	9.0	−1.3	1.2	4 Dec 2008	107.2	158.0	low	68%
Smithton Aerodrome	20.5	−0.4	36.6	30 Jan 2009	9.8	−1.1	1.1	10 Dec 2008	156.0	134.4	average	116%
Wynyard Airport	21.5	+0.8	35.1	31 Jan 2009	10.1	−0.6	1.5	4 Dec 2008	96.9	151.5	low	64%
East Coast (district 92)
Bicheno	21.0	+0.1	31.8	20 Jan 2009	12.5	0.0	6.0	10 Dec 2008	118.4	181.2	average	65%
Eddystone Point	21.3	+0.9	35.1	29 Jan 2009	12.8	−0.6	6.1	4 Dec 2008	145.8	152.3	average	96%
Fingal	22.3	−0.3	41.3	30 Jan 2009	9.4	−0.2	0.4	4 Dec 2008	132.6	132.8	average	100%
Friendly Beaches	21.7	−0.7	32.7	20 Jan 2009	11.9	−0.8	5.5	10 Dec 2008
Lake Leake	18.4	−0.2	36.2	30 Jan 2009	6.7	−1.1	−2.7	4 Dec 2008	133.2	172.3	low	77%
Maria Island	20.3		30.9	30 Jan 2009	12.5		7.3	4 Dec 2008	105.6
Orford	20.9	−0.5	36.7	30 Jan 2009	11.2	−0.2	5.4	10 Dec 2008	130.2	158.5	average	82%
Scamander	21.2	−0.1	42.2	30 Jan 2009	12.2	0.0	6.1	4 Dec 2008	158.8	152.5	average	104%
St Helens Aerodrome	21.5		41.8	30 Jan 2009	12.0		4.3	4 Dec 2008	200.2
Swan Island	19.6		31.9	29 Jan 2009	13.6		7.6	4 Dec 2008	101.8
Swansea Post Office	21.2	−0.5	33.9	20 Jan 2009	10.8	−0.6	2.4	3 Jan 2009	124.2	152.1	average	82%
Midlands (district 93)
Ross	23.4	−0.3	41.6	30 Jan 2009	9.6	−0.3	−0.6	4 Dec 2008	85.4	124.9	low	68%
Southeast (district 94)
Bull Bay	20.3	−0.4	29.7	22 Dec 2008	11.0	−0.7	5.5	4 Dec 2008	84.0	156.1	low	54%
Campania	23.0		38.6	30 Jan 2009	10.5		2.6	10 Dec 2008	87.0
Cape Bruny	18.7	−0.5	30.9	22 Dec 2008	10.9	−0.8	6.5	4 Dec 2008	135.0	173.4	low	78%
Cape Bruny Lighthouse	17.8	−0.1	29.9	22 Dec 2008	11.1	−0.1	5.0	1 Jan 2009	172.0	195.5	average	88%
Dover	19.5	−0.6	31.0	22 Dec 2008	8.7	−1.2	2.6	4 Dec 2008	133.6	179.3	low	75%
Geeveston	20.7	−0.4	34.5	30 Jan 2009	8.9	−0.6	2.0	10 Dec 2008	193.8	180.1	average	108%
Grove	21.9	+0.2	36.3	30 Jan 2009	8.7	−0.5	1.1	4 Dec 2008	156.2	157.0	average	99%
Grove	21.6		36.0	30 Jan 2009	8.1		0.3	4 Dec 2008	172.0
Hobart	21.7	+0.5	33.5	13 Jan 2009	11.6	+0.1	5.0	4 Dec 2008	108.6	145.0	average	75%
Hobart Airport	21.8	+0.1	34.4	13 Jan 2009	11.3	−0.3	4.3	10 Dec 2008	72.6	131.2	low	55%
Maatsuyker Island Lighthouse	16.0	−0.7	26.9	22 Dec 2008	10.3	−0.1	5.4	2 Dec 2008	203.0	240.3	average	84%
Melton Mowbray	22.4	−0.7	38.3	30 Jan 2009	9.6	−0.2	1.0	10 Dec 2008	83.0	103.2	average	80%
Mount Wellington	12.1	−0.6	27.7	30 Jan 2009	3.3	−1.1	−3.6	4 Dec 2008	219.4	251.3	average	87%
Tasman Island	16.8		29.6	29 Jan 2009	10.3		5.2	2 Jan 2009	118.2
Tunnack Fire Station	20.2	−0.6	36.9	30 Jan 2009	7.8	−0.7	−1.0	4 Dec 2008	157.8	144.5	average	109%
Derwent Valley (district 95)
Bushy Park	23.7	+0.5	38.6	30 Jan 2009	8.9	−0.9	1.1	10 Dec 2008	92.0	127.2	low	72%
Maydena Post Office	20.3	−1.2	33.5	30 Jan 2009	7.9	−0.6	1.5	10 Feb 2009	240.6	218.1	average	110%
Ouse Fire Station	23.8	−0.7	38.7	30 Jan 2009	9.2	−0.4	1.4	10 Dec 2008	90.8	96.2	average	94%
Tarraleah Village	18.8	−0.2	33.0	30 Jan 2009	6.9	+0.1	−0.4	10 Dec 2008	230.5	223.0	average	103%
Central Plateau (district 96)
Butlers Gorge	17.6	−0.4	32.5	29 Jan 2009	5.5	−0.5	−1.6	12 Feb 2009	354.2	308.0	average	115%
Lake St Clair National Park	17.7	−0.8	32.5	30 Jan 2009	5.3	−0.5	−1.0	10 Dec 2008	376.6	324.8	average	116%
Liawenee	16.9		32.0	30 Jan 2009	4.2		−4.5	10 Dec 2008	129.6
West Coast (district 97)
Hartz Mountain	15.5	−1.4	28.6	30 Jan 2009	5.5	−1.0	−0.1	10 Dec 2008	272.2	202.5	very high	134%
Mount Read	12.4	−1.1	28.6	30 Jan 2009	4.6	−0.7	−1.6	10 Dec 2008	782.0
Scotts Peak Dam	19.4	−0.5	33.2	30 Jan 2009	8.1	−0.8	2.7	10 Dec 2008
Strahan Aerodrome	19.5	−0.8	30.3	13 Jan 2009	9.7	−0.6	4.4	10 Dec 2008
Strathgordon Village			31.0	30 Jan 2009	9.2	+0.1	3.0	4 Dec 2008	540.3	463.7	high	117%
Warra	17.6		31.5	30 Jan 2009	7.1		1.1	10 Dec 2008	374.0
King Island (district 98)
King Island Airport	19.8	−0.3	33.4	29 Jan 2009	11.6	−0.5	2.8	11 Dec 2008	97.4	117.0	low	83%
Flinders Island (district 99)
Flinders Island Airport	21.6	0.0	41.5	29 Jan 2009	12.4	−0.5	4.5	11 Dec 2008	182.7	143.1	high	128%
Antarctica and Macquarie Island (district 300)
Macquarie Island	8.1	−0.3	10.6	22 Jan 2009	4.8	−0.2	0.7	5 Dec 2008	233.8	246.4	average	95%

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Notes

Further information

Ian Barnes-Keoghan
Meteorologist
Tasmania and Antarctica Climate Services Centre
Bureau of Meteorology
Phone (03) 6221 2043
Email climate.tas@bom.gov.au

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