Monday, 1 March 2010 - Seasonal Climate Summary for Tasmania - Product code IDCKGC27R0
Tasmania in summer 2009-10: Warm and dry
Despite several days with heavy rainfall and some cool days, summer was warmer than usual across Tasmania and drier than usual in most areas. Several sites in the north had their driest summer for many years. There were very few cool days and several very warm nights and hot days, making it one of the warmest summers on record for Tasmania.
Details Extremes Records Summaries Important notes the top
Mostly drier than usual despite some heavy falls
Overall, summer was drier than usual except for a few sites in the central east and Midlands. Several sites in the north had their driest summer for at least 20 years, including Launceston (71 mm). The driest location was Low Head, with just 59 mm in total.
Although it was dry overall there was heavy rain on a number of days: on 4-5 February a cold front brought statewide rain with locally heavy falls in the east, including 112 mm at Mount Barrow; active thunderstorms on 16-17 January brought short and sharp falls to parts of the east with over 30 mm falling at Grove in an hour and 87 mm recorded at Chain of Lagoons; and a trough on 11th February delivered 15 to 25 mm to the northeastern half of the state and even more to the central east and Midlands, including 80 mm at Campbell Town (its highest summer daily rainfall on record). Another front on 17 December brought widespread falls of 25 to 40 mm. Swansea was one of the few sites to have heavy rain on all of these occasions, and in all had five days with falls of over 20 mm; the last time this happened during summer was 1985-86.
Hobart received 107 mm, 75 % of its average summer rainfall. Mount Read was the wettest location with a total of 605 mm.
A hot summer with few cool days
It was cool during the first three weeks of December and the last few days of February, but apart from that days were mostly warmer than usual so that mean maximum temperatures for summer were around a degree above average in most areas. Looking at these daytime temperatures, Eddystone Point and Wynyard had their warmest summer on record, Cape Bruny had its warmest summer since 1988 and everywhere else had their warmest summer for several years. There were several very hot days, including 9-12 January when Ouse reached 40.7 °C, the 8th highest temperature ever recorded in Tasmania, and Devonport reached 33.2 °C, hotter than it had ever recorded before. The lack of cool days was also notable; in Hobart, for example, the temperature failed to exceed 18 °C on just 8 days; in a typical summer there would be about 22 days that cool.
Hobart's mean maximum temperature of 23.0 °C was almost two degrees above average, the fourth highest value on record for summer. Daytime temperatures in Hobart ranged from 12.4 °C on 17 December to 38.3 °C on 31 December, and the temperature exceeded 30 °C on 8 days. There were 71 consecutive days when maximum temperatures above 18 °C were recorded, the longest run of mild days in recorded history.
Several very warm nights, but some cold ones too
Mean minima for summer were within half a degree of average in most areas, but over a degree above average in the northeast. Launceston's mean minimum temperature of 12.9 °C was its equal highest on record for summer. Warm nights were more common than usual: Hobart had 3 nights when the temperature didn't drop below 20 °C and Launceston had 8 nights over 18 °C. The warmest night was 22.0 °C at Friendly Beaches on 1 January. Dover's minimum of 20.2 °C on 4 February was a record, as was Bicheno's minimum of 19.4 °C on 21 February.
Although it was warm overall, there were still some very cold nights. Butlers Gorge fell to -2.8 °C on the morning of 27 January, and Liawenee and Lake St Clair fell to -2.6 °C on 24 February. Hobart's coldest temperature was 8.0 °C on 18 December.
Further information
- Media
- media@bom.gov.au (03) 9669 4057
- Enquiries
- helpdesk.climate@bom.gov.au
| Extremes in summer 2009-10 | |
|---|---|
| Hottest day | 40.7 °C at Ouse Fire Station on
11 Jan 2010 |
| Warmest days on average | 25.5 °C at Bushy Park (Bushy Park Estates) |
| Coolest days on average | 13.9 °C at Mount Read |
| Coldest day | 5.5 °C at Mount Read on 4 Dec
2009 |
| Coldest night | -2.8 °C at Butlers Gorge on 27
Jan 2010 |
| Coolest nights on average | 4.7 °C at Mount Wellington |
| Warmest nights on average | 15.0 °C at Swan Island |
| Warmest night | 22.0 °C at Friendly Beaches on
1 Jan 2010 |
| Wettest overall | 604.8 mm at Mount Read |
| Driest overall | 58.6 mm at Low Head |
| Wettest day | 111.6 mm at Mount Barrow (South Barrow)
on 5 Feb 2010 |
| Highest wind gust | 144 km/h at Mount Wellington on 18 Dec 2009 |
| Rainfall maps | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Total | Percentage | Decile rank | |
| Total rainfall |
 |
|
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| Temperature maps | |||
| Mean | Anomaly | Decile rank | |
| Mean daily maximum temperatures |
 |
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| Mean daily minimum temperatures |
 |
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Details Extremes Records Summaries Important notes the top
| Record highest summer daily rainfall | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Highest daily rainfall in summer 2009-10 (mm) |
Previous highest for summer |
Years of record |
||||
| Campbell Town (Elizabeth R) | 80.2 | on 12 Feb 2010 | 60.8 | on 19 Feb 1977 | 26 | |
| Record lowest total summer rainfall | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Total rainfall for summer 2009-10 (mm) |
Previous lowest for summer |
Years of record |
Average for summer |
||
| Forthside Research Station | 62.8 | 71.0 | in 1983 | 42 | 163.7 |
| Lowest total summer rainfall for at least 20 years | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Total rainfall for summer 2009-10 (mm) |
Most recent summer at least this dry |
Years since drier |
Average for summer |
||
| Frankford (Rossville) | 88.2 | 79.0 | in 1981 | 28 | 166.3 |
| Burnie (Round Hill) | 73.0 | 57.3 | in 1983 | 26 | 150.3 |
| Launceston (Ti Tree Bend) | 71.5 | 57.1 | in 1983 | 26 | 121.8 |
| Barrington Post Office | 103.4 | 92.8 | in 1987 | 22 | 177.9 |
| Yolla (Sea View) | 124.6 | 113.2 | in 1987 | 22 | 215.6 |
| Waddamana Field Study Centre | 104.4 | 93.8 | in 1987 | 20 | 164.1 |
| Record highest summer mean daily maximum temperature | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Mean daily maximum temperature for summer 2009-10 (°C) |
Previous warmest for summer |
Years of record |
Average for summer |
||
| Eddystone Point | 23.0 | 22.6 | in 2002 | 50 | 20.4 |
| Wynyard Airport | 22.3 | 22.1 | in 2000 | 21 | 20.8 |
| Highest summer mean daily maximum temperature for at least 20 years | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Mean daily maximum temperature for summer 2009-10 (°C) |
Most recent higher for summer |
Years since higher |
Average for summer |
||
| Cape Bruny Lighthouse | 19.5 | 19.8 | in 1988 | 21 | 17.9 |
| Record highest daily minimum temperature * | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Highest daily minimum temperature in summer 2009-10 (°C) |
Previous highest for summer |
Years of record |
Average for summer |
|||
| Bicheno (Council Depot) | 19.4 | on 21 Feb 2010 | 19.0 | on 18 Feb 1989 | 36 | 12.5 |
| Dover | 20.2 | on 4 Feb 2010 | 19.7 | on 30 Dec 2002 | 21 | 9.8 |
| Record highest summer mean daily minimum temperature | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Mean daily minimum temperature for summer 2009-10 (°C) |
Previous highest for summer |
Years of record |
Average for summer |
||
| Launceston (Ti Tree Bend) | 12.9 | = 12.9 | in 1998 | 25 | 11.6 |
| Highest summer mean daily minimum temperature for at least 20 years | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Mean daily minimum temperature for summer 2009-10 (°C) |
Most recent higher for summer |
Years since higher |
Average for summer |
||
| Maatsuyker Island Lighthouse | 11.6 | = 11.6 | in 1988 | 21 | 10.4 |
Details Extremes Records Summaries Important notes the top
| Summary statistics for summer 2009-10 | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maximum temperatures for summer (°C) |
Minimum temperatures for summer (°C) |
Rainfall for summer (millimetres) |
||||||||||
| Mean for summer 2009-10 |
Diff from average |
Highest for summer 2009-10 |
Mean for summer 2009-10 |
Diff from average |
Lowest for summer 2009-10 |
Total for summer 2009-10 |
Average for summer |
Rank of summer 2009-10 |
Fraction of summer average |
|||
| Northern (district 91) | ||||||||||||
| Bridport (Sea View Villas) | 21.9 | +0.6 | 28.0 | 20 Feb 2010 | 12.9 | +0.5 | 6.0 | 2 Dec 2009 | 65.0 | 124.2 | v low | 52% |
| Burnie (Round Hill) | 21.8 | +1.2 | 32.7 | 9 Jan 2010 | 13.7 | +1.3 | 7.2 | 11 Dec 2009 | 73.0 | 150.3 | v low | 49% |
| Cape Grim BAPS | 19.3 | +0.8 | 27.0 | 31 Dec 2009 | 13.2 | +0.3 | 9.0 | 11 Dec 2009 | 104.2 | 113.7 | average | 92% |
| Cressy Research Station | 25.3 | +1.0 | 35.6 | 9 Jan 2010 | 10.3 | +0.8 | 1.8 | 25 Dec 2009 | 117.4 | |||
| Devonport Airport | 22.1 | +1.4 | 33.2 | 9 Jan 2010 | 12.4 | +0.7 | 4.9 | 9 Dec 2009 | 73.2 | 130.3 | v low | 56% |
| Launceston (Ti Tree Bend) | 24.9 | +1.2 | 33.3 | 9 Feb 2010 | 12.9 | +1.3 | 6.2 | 25 Dec 2009 | 71.5 | 121.8 | v low | 59% |
| Launceston Airport | 24.5 | 33.1 | 9 Jan 2010 | 10.9 | 3.8 | 9 Dec 2009 | 100.4 | |||||
| Low Head | 20.6 | +0.6 | 25.0 | 27 Feb 2010 | 14.4 | +0.6 | 9.5 | 18 Jan 2010 | 58.6 | 112.2 | v low | 52% |
| Luncheon Hill (Forestry) | 20.8 | +0.7 | 30.3 | 31 Dec 2009 | 10.2 | +0.4 | 5.3 | 8 Dec 2009 | 163.8 | 219.7 | low | 75% |
| Marrawah | 20.4 | +0.7 | 28.8 | 31 Jan 2010 | 12.2 | +0.6 | 7.2 | 20 Dec 2009 | 155.2 | 156.2 | average | 99% |
| Scottsdale (West Minstone Road) | 23.4 | +1.2 | 31.9 | 9 Jan 2010 | 11.4 | +1.1 | 3.9 | 25 Dec 2009 | 90.2 | 163.4 | v low | 55% |
| Sheffield School Farm | 22.1 | +1.1 | 31.3 | 9 Jan 2010 | 10.4 | +0.2 | 4.0 | 9 Dec 2009 | 105.6 | 153.6 | low | 69% |
| Smithton Aerodrome | 21.4 | +0.5 | 27.8 | 9 Feb 2010 | 10.4 | -0.4 | 1.9 | 21 Jan 2010 | 105.6 | 131.9 | low | 80% |
| Wynyard Airport | 22.3 | +1.5 | 33.6 | 9 Jan 2010 | 11.4 | +0.8 | 3.3 | 9 Dec 2009 | 94.8 | 150.2 | low | 63% |
| East Coast (district 92) | ||||||||||||
| Bicheno (Council Depot) | 22.1 | +1.2 | 32.7 | 31 Dec 2009 | 13.4 | +0.9 | 8.0 | 3 Jan 2010 | 161.3 | 180.9 | average | 89% |
| Eddystone Point | 23.0 | +2.6 | 31.8 | 9 Jan 2010 | 14.1 | +0.8 | 7.8 | 9 Dec 2009 | 76.0 | 151.6 | low | 50% |
| Fingal (Legge Street) | 23.5 | +1.0 | 34.4 | 31 Dec 2009 | 10.2 | +0.6 | 2.7 | 9 Dec 2009 | 110.8 | 132.7 | average | 83% |
| Friendly Beaches | 22.7 | +0.3 | 35.3 | 16 Dec 2009 | 13.1 | +0.5 | 6.9 | 18 Dec 2009 | 111.0 | 161.5 | low | 69% |
| Lake Leake (Elizabeth River) | 19.6 | +1.0 | 29.3 | 31 Dec 2009 | 8.4 | +0.6 | 0.4 | 24 Feb 2010 | 218.4 | 172.7 | high | 126% |
| Maria Island (Point Lesueur) | 21.2 | 30.2 | 16 Dec 2009 | 13.5 | 9.0 | 18 Dec 2009 | 95.0 | |||||
| Orford (Aubin Court) | 22.0 | +0.6 | 34.8 | 31 Dec 2009 | 12.2 | +0.8 | 6.8 | 18 Dec 2009 | 155.6 | 158.5 | average | 98% |
| Scamander | 22.0 | +0.7 | 35.1 | 31 Dec 2009 | 13.4 | +1.2 | 8.3 | 3 Jan 2010 | 100.0 | 150.6 | average | 66% |
| St Helens Aerodrome | 22.5 | 34.0 | 31 Dec 2009 | 13.4 | 7.9 | 9 Dec 2009 | 112.4 | |||||
| Swan Island | 21.1 | 28.4 | 31 Dec 2009 | 15.0 | 9.4 | 19 Jan 2010 | 105.2 | |||||
| Swansea Post Office | 22.5 | +0.8 | 35.3 | 31 Dec 2009 | 11.8 | +0.4 | 6.1 | 24 Feb 2010 | 177.3 | 152.3 | high | 116% |
| Midlands (district 93) | ||||||||||||
| Ross (The Boulevards) | 24.3 | +0.7 | 33.7 | 12 Jan 2010 | 10.4 | +0.5 | 2.0 | 24 Feb 2010 | 141.2 | 125.9 | average | 112% |
| Southeast (district 94) | ||||||||||||
| Bull Bay (Lauriston) | 21.5 | +0.8 | 37.2 | 31 Dec 2009 | 6.9 | 18 Dec 2009 | 125.0 | 154.9 | average | 81% | ||
| Campania (Kincora) | 24.5 | 38.1 | 31 Dec 2009 | 10.7 | 4.5 | 24 Feb 2010 | 107.6 | |||||
| Cape Bruny (Cape Bruny) | 20.1 | +0.9 | 36.1 | 31 Dec 2009 | 12.0 | +0.3 | 7.6 | 20 Dec 2009 | 155.8 | 166.3 | average | 94% |
| Cape Bruny Lighthouse | 19.4 | +1.5 | 35.2 | 31 Dec 2009 | 12.1 | +1.0 | 5.6 | 12 Dec 2009 | 175.6 | 195.2 | average | 90% |
| Dover | 21.1 | +1.1 | 37.3 | 31 Dec 2009 | 9.8 | 0.0 | 2.9 | 20 Dec 2009 | 141.6 | 175.4 | average | 81% |
| Geeveston (Cemetery Road) | 22.4 | +1.3 | 37.4 | 11 Jan 2010 | 9.5 | +0.1 | 3.5 | 20 Dec 2009 | 123.0 | 178.6 | low | 69% |
| Grove (Research Station) | 23.0 | 37.4 | 11 Jan 2010 | 8.6 | 1.7 | 24 Feb 2010 | 163.8 | |||||
| Hobart (Ellerslie Road) | 23.0 | +1.8 | 38.3 | 31 Dec 2009 | 12.7 | +1.2 | 8.0 | 18 Dec 2009 | 107.2 | 144.7 | low | 74% |
| Hobart Airport | 22.9 | +1.1 | 37.1 | 31 Dec 2009 | 12.2 | +0.6 | 7.2 | 27 Jan 2010 | 103.4 | 130.7 | average | 79% |
| Maatsuyker Island Lighthouse | 17.4 | +0.8 | 31.4 | 4 Feb 2010 | 11.6 | +1.2 | 8.2 | 4 Dec 2009 | 181.0 | 239.8 | low | 75% |
| Melton Mowbray (North Stockman) | 23.6 | +0.6 | 36.2 | 31 Dec 2009 | 9.6 | -0.2 | 2.6 | 24 Feb 2010 | 104.4 | 103.3 | average | 101% |
| Mount Wellington | 14.2 | +1.6 | 27.9 | 11 Jan 2010 | 4.7 | +0.4 | -0.9 | 4 Dec 2009 | 175.2 | 248.4 | average | 71% |
| Tasman Island | 17.9 | 31.1 | 31 Dec 2009 | 11.4 | 7.1 | 8 Dec 2009 | 136.2 | |||||
| Tunnack Fire Station | 21.2 | +0.4 | 31.2 | 12 Jan 2010 | 8.3 | -0.1 | 1.2 | 7 Jan 2010 | 143.4 | 144.4 | average | 99% |
| Derwent Valley (district 95) | ||||||||||||
| Bushy Park (Bushy Park Estates) | 25.4 | +2.2 | 39.0 | 11 Jan 2010 | 9.6 | -0.1 | 3.3 | 24 Jan 2010 | 61.4 | 126.8 | v low | 48% |
| Maydena Post Office | 22.1 | +0.7 | 37.2 | 11 Jan 2010 | 8.2 | -0.2 | 1.1 | 24 Jan 2010 | 135.0 | 213.6 | v low | 63% |
| Ouse Fire Station | 25.3 | +0.8 | 40.7 | 11 Jan 2010 | 9.2 | -0.3 | 1.8 | 24 Feb 2010 | 66.2 | 93.5 | low | 71% |
| Central Plateau (district 96) | ||||||||||||
| Butlers Gorge | 19.3 | +1.3 | 33.0 | 11 Jan 2010 | 5.5 | -0.5 | -2.8 | 27 Jan 2010 | 182.4 | 305.8 | v low | 60% |
| Lake St Clair National Park | 19.5 | +1.0 | 31.0 | 11 Jan 2010 | 5.3 | -0.4 | -2.6 | 24 Feb 2010 | 218.6 | 319.7 | v low | 68% |
| Liawenee | 18.6 | 28.0 | 16 Dec 2009 | 4.8 | -2.6 | 24 Feb 2010 | 135.2 | |||||
| West Coast (district 97) | ||||||||||||
| Hartz Mountain (Keoghs Pimple) | 17.2 | +0.4 | 34.4 | 11 Jan 2010 | 6.7 | +0.2 | 1.3 | 4 Dec 2009 | 152.6 | 198.9 | low | 77% |
| Mount Read | 13.8 | +0.4 | 25.5 | 11 Jan 2010 | 5.4 | +0.2 | -0.5 | 4 Dec 2009 | 604.8 | 659.2 | low | 92% |
| Scotts Peak Dam | 21.3 | +1.5 | 35.8 | 11 Jan 2010 | 9.1 | +0.3 | 3.2 | 20 Dec 2009 | 251.6 | 320.0 | v low | 79% |
| Strahan Aerodrome | 20.9 | +0.6 | 35.6 | 11 Jan 2010 | 10.3 | 0.0 | 4.6 | 20 Dec 2009 | 225.0 | 220.3 | average | 102% |
| Strathgordon Village | 19.9 | +1.2 | 33.0 | 31 Dec 2009 | 9.1 | 0.0 | 4.0 | 20 Dec 2009 | 356.8 | 462.0 | low | 77% |
| Warra | 19.6 | 34.8 | 11 Jan 2010 | 7.9 | 1.1 | 20 Dec 2009 | 198.0 | |||||
| King Island (district 98) | ||||||||||||
| King Island Airport | 21.3 | +1.2 | 35.2 | 31 Dec 2009 | 12.2 | +0.1 | 4.6 | 24 Jan 2010 | 116.4 | 117.0 | average | 99% |
| Flinders Island (district 99) | ||||||||||||
| Flinders Island Airport | 22.7 | +1.1 | 35.6 | 12 Jan 2010 | 13.6 | +0.7 | 4.9 | 21 Dec 2009 | 109.9 | 142.6 | average | 77% |
| Hogan Island | 21.8 | 33.8 | 31 Dec 2009 | 14.9 | 10.0 | 11 Dec 2009 | 125.0 | |||||
| Antarctica and Macquarie Island (district 300) | ||||||||||||
| Macquarie Island | 9.0 | +0.6 | 11.9 | 19 Jan 2010 | 5.4 | +0.4 | 1.3 | 14 Dec 2009 | 272.0 | 246.9 | high | 110% |
Details Extremes Records Summaries Important notes the top
Notes
A Seasonal Climate Summary is prepared to list 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. Later information, including data that has had greater opportunity for quality control, will be presented in the Monthly Weather Review, usually published in the fourth week of the month.
This statement has been prepared based on information available at 10 am on Monday 1 March 2010. Some checks have been made on the data, but it is possible that results will change as new information becomes available.
Averages 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.
Further information
- Media
- media@bom.gov.au (03) 9669 4057
- Enquiries
- helpdesk.climate@bom.gov.au
Unless otherwise noted, all maps, graphs and diagrams in this page are licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International Licence
