Tuesday, 1 June 2010 - Seasonal Climate Summary for Tasmania - Product code IDCKGC17R0
Tasmania in autumn 2010: a mild season
The switch to cooler weather during May has masked what has been a
very mild autumn across Tasmania. Several sites, including Hobart, had
their warmest autumn on record, with daytime temperatures especially
warm. Local heavy rain in the northeast at the end of May and some
moderate falls in other areas meant most of the state had near-average
rain for the season, but the southeast was relatively dry
- Record warm autumn, including Hobart
- Mild weather dominated until 11 May
- Dry in the southeast
Details Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top
A record warm autumn
Exceptionally mild temperatures during most
of March and April and the first part of May have meant that many sites
in Tasmania have had their warmest
autumn on record, or their warmest for many years. For some it was the
general lack of cool days giving the highest autumn mean daily maximum temperature on record, for others it was many mild nights that ensured the highest autumn mean daily minimum temperature on record. For just a few it was the combination that gave the highest autumn mean temperature on record. Included in all three sets of records is Hobart, where comparable observations extend back to 1896.
Few cool days until mid-May
A cold change on April 24 brought a few days of cooler weather, but
temperatures recovered somewhat until another change on May 11 brought
the first significant snow to
Tasmania's highlands this year. Prior to these, autumn was following
the pattern set in summer of lengthy runs of mild days. There were not
that many particularly hot days in autumn, apart from 4 March when Ouse Fire Station reached 32.4 °C, Bushy Park 31.7 °C and Fingal with 31.6 °C. The warmest days on average were at Campania (Kincora) with 20.3 °C, compared to the chilly average of 9.4 °C on Mount Wellington
(where the temperature did not get above -0.4 °C on 21 May).
The autumn mean daily maximum temperature at most sites was above
average by at least one degree, making it one of the warmest autumns on record, particularly in the south and east.
Some cold nights, but mild overall
On the morning of 22 May, Liawenee dipped to -10.2 °C, the second-coldest autumn temperature ever recorded in Tasmania (the coldest was -10.5 at the same place on 30 May 2006). There were also some low temperatures on 26 April (when Liawenee dipped to -5.6 °C). These cold nights were more than countered by many mild nights earlier in the season, meaning the mean daily minimum temperature at most sites was above the autumn average, by about half a degree most areas but by over a degree at some northern locations.
A record warm start to the year
Some of the places that registered a record warm autumn have also had a record warm January-to-May. Average maximum temperatures at Hobart and Launceston (among others) were the warmest they have ever been over the period. Hobart's average daily maximum temperature from January to May 2010 was 21.0 °C, 2.0 °C above the long-term average and fully 0.7 °C clear of the 2008 record. Overnight temperatures have also been mild, but not by such large margins.
Average rain in most areas, but dry in the southeast
There were some very heavy rain in the northeast near the end of May, and other significant wet days in the northeast and the west during April; some sites had their highest autumn daily rainfall on record on one of these occasions. This meant that autumn rainfall totals in most areas were close to or slightly above the average. It was a different story in the southeast, where totals were well down on normal.The wettest overall was Mount Read with 1150.0 mm, but Brighton registered just 50.6 mm for the whole season.
Further information
- Media
- media@bom.gov.au (03) 9669 4057
- Enquiries
- helpdesk.climate@bom.gov.au
| Extremes in autumn 2010 | |
|---|---|
| Hottest day |
32.4 °C at Ouse Fire Station on 4 Mar |
| Warmest days on average |
20.4 °C at Campania (Kincora) |
| Coolest days on average |
9.4 °C at Mount Wellington |
| Coldest day |
-0.4 °C at Mount Wellington on 21 May |
| Coldest night |
-10.2 °C at Liawenee on 22 May |
| Coolest nights on average |
2.4 °C at Liawenee |
| Warmest nights on average |
13.9 °C at Hogan Island |
| Warmest night |
20.0 °C at Bicheno (Council Depot) on 26 Mar |
| Warmest on average overall |
16.3 °C at Hogan Island |
| Coolest on average overall | 6.3 °C at Mount Wellington |
| Wettest overall |
1150.0 mm at Mount Read |
| Driest overall |
50.6 mm at Brighton |
| Wettest day |
191.6 mm at Gray (Dalmayne Rd) on 29 May |
| Highest wind gust |
144 km/h at Maatsuyker Island Lighthouse on 28 Apr |
Details 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 |
|
|
|
Click on a map to show it full size in a pop-up window
| Record highest autumn daily rainfall | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Highest daily rainfall in autumn 2010 (mm) |
Previous wettest for autumn |
Years of record |
||||
| Swansea Post Office | 131.6 | on 29 May | 121.4 | on 23 Apr 1960 | 110 | |
| Musselboro (Elverton) | 52.2 | on 8 Apr | 52.0 | on 26 May 1987 | 42 | |
| Zeehan (West Coast Pioneers Museum) | 84.4 | on 12 Apr | 80.4 | on 18 May 1975 | 42 | |
| Highest total autumn rainfall for at least 20 years | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Total rainfall for autumn 2010 (mm) |
Most recent autumn at least this wet |
Years since wetter |
Average for autumn |
||
| Lilydale Post Office | 263.6 | 361.2 | in 1989 | 21 | 220.6 |
| Record highest autumn mean daily maximum temperature | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Mean daily maximum temperature for autumn 2010 (°C) |
Previous warmest for autumn |
Years of record |
Average for autumn |
||
| Hobart (Ellerslie Road) | 19.2 | 18.7 | in 2008 | 115* | 17.2 |
| Swansea Post Office | 19.7 | 19.6 | in 1972 | 53 | 18.5 |
| Eddystone Point | 20.1 | 19.9 | in 2007 | 51 | 18.1 |
| Hobart Airport | 19.5 | 19.2 | in 2007 | 51 | 18.0 |
| Bicheno (Council Depot) | 20.1 | 19.9 | in 2007 | 35 | 18.6 |
| Launceston (Ti Tree Bend) | 20.1 | = 20.1 | in 2007 | 26 | 19.0 |
| Tarraleah Village | 15.4 | = 15.4 | in 2008 | 25 | 14.1 |
| Highest autumn mean daily maximum temperature for at least 20 years | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Mean daily maximum temperature for autumn 2010 (°C) |
Most recent autumn at least this warm |
Years since warmer |
Average for autumn |
||
| Cape Bruny Lighthouse | 16.8 | 17.2 | in 1971 | 39 | 15.5 |
| Fingal (Legge Street) | 19.3 | 19.6 | in 1990 | 20 | 18.3 |
| Record highest autumn daily minimum temperature | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Highest daily minimum temperature in autumn 2010 (°C) |
Previous warmest for autumn |
Years of record |
Average for autumn |
|||
| Scottsdale (West Minstone Road) | 18.5 | on 8 Mar | 18.3 | on 12 Mar 1978 | 39 | 7.9 |
| Bicheno (Council Depot) | 20.0 | on 26 Mar | 19.1 | on 10 Mar 2001 | 36 | 10.2 |
| Dover | 17.2 | on 26 Mar | 16.9 | on 23 Mar 2001 | 21 | 7.3 |
| Record highest autumn mean daily minimum temperature | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Mean daily minimum temperature for autumn 2010 (°C) |
Previous warmest for autumn |
Years of record |
Average for autumn |
||
| Hobart (Ellerslie Road) | 10.3 | = 10.3 | in 2007 | 115* | 8.9 |
| Cape Bruny Lighthouse | 11.0 | = 11.0 | in 2007 | 85 | 9.7 |
| Wynyard Airport | 8.8 | 8.4 | in 2007 | 24 | 7.2 |
| Highest autumn mean daily minimum temperature for at least 20 years | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Mean daily minimum temperature for autumn 2010 (°C) |
Most recent autumn at least this warm |
Years since warmer |
Average for autumn |
||
| Scottsdale (West Minstone Road) | 9.2 | 9.5 | in 1989 | 21 | 7.9 |
| Record highest autumn mean temperature | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Mean daily temperature for autumn 2010 (°C) |
Previous warmest for autumn |
Years of record |
Average for autumn |
||
| Hobart (Ellerslie Road) | 14.8 | 14.5 | in 1990 | 115* | 13.1 |
| Cape Bruny Lighthouse | 13.9 | = 13.9 | in 1971 | 85 | 12.6 |
| Eddystone Point | 16.2 | = 16.2 | in 2007 | 51 | 14.8 |
| Bicheno (Council Depot) | 15.7 | = 15.7 | in 2007 | 35 | 14.4 |
| Wynyard Airport | 13.8 | 13.7 | in 2007 | 24 | 12.4 |
Details Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top
| Summary statistics for autumn 2010 | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maximum temperatures for autumn (°C) |
Minimum temperatures for autumn (°C) |
Rainfall for autumn (millimetres) |
||||||||||
| Mean for autumn 2010 |
Diff from average |
Highest for autumn 2010 |
Mean for autumn 2010 |
Diff from average |
Lowest for autumn 2010 |
Total for autumn 2010 |
Average for autumn |
Rank of autumn 2010 |
Fraction of autumn average |
|||
| Northern (district 91) | ||||||||||||
| Bridport (Sea View Villas) | 18.9 | +0.6 | 25.7 | 17 Mar | 10.4 | +0.8 | 2.2 | 12 May | 174.9 | 159.5 | average | 110% |
| Burnie (Round Hill) | 18.8 | +1.1 | 25.9 | 2 Mar | 11.6 | +1.5 | 4.2 | 22 May | 207.9 | 218.7 | average | 95% |
| Cape Grim BAPS | 17.2 | +0.7 | 26.7 | 16 Mar | 12.0 | +0.5 | 5.5 | 23 May | 227.2 | 183.6 | high | 124% |
| Cressy Research Station | 19.2 | +0.6 | 30.2 | 4 Mar | 6.5 | +0.9 | -5.1 | 23 May | 185.4 | 120.1 | v high | 154% |
| Devonport Airport | 18.8 | +1.1 | 25.7 | 5 Mar | 10.1 | +1.4 | 1.6 | 20 May | 174.5 | 180.7 | average | 97% |
| Launceston (Ti Tree Bend) | 20.1 | +1.1 | 29.4 | 5 Mar | 8.8 | +1.3 | -1.6 | 23 May | 206.3 | 149.9 | v high | 138% |
| Launceston Airport | 19.0 | 29.3 | 4 Mar | 7.6 | -3.1 | 23 May | 168.4 | |||||
| Low Head | 18.4 | +0.8 | 23.6 | 6 Mar | 12.2 | +1.1 | 3.5 | 23 May | 160.8 | 146.5 | high | 110% |
| Luncheon Hill (Forestry) | 16.6 | +0.9 | 29.4 | 3 Mar | 9.1 | +1.0 | 1.8 | 22 May | 357.2 | 345.7 | average | 103% |
| Marrawah | 17.4 | +0.4 | 25.5 | 16 Mar | 11.0 | +0.7 | 4.2 | 23 May | 324.6 | 254.5 | high | 128% |
| Scottsdale (West Minstone Road) | 18.5 | +0.4 | 28.1 | 4 Mar | 9.2 | +1.3 | -0.8 | 22 May | 204.0 | 231.1 | average | 88% |
| Sheffield School Farm | 17.1 | +0.5 | 27.4 | 6 Mar | 8.0 | +0.8 | -0.2 | 22 May | 299.6 | 197.2 | v high | 152% |
| Smithton Aerodrome | 18.4 | +0.6 | 26.3 | 17 Mar | 8.8 | +1.1 | -2.4 | 22 May | 239.4 | 183.2 | high | 131% |
| Wynyard Airport | 18.8 | +1.3 | 27.4 | 17 Mar | 8.8 | +1.6 | -2.0 | 22 May | 232.3 | 218.4 | average | 106% |
| East Coast (district 92) | ||||||||||||
| Bicheno (Council Depot) | 20.1 | +1.5 | 28.3 | 6 Mar | 11.2 | +1.0 | 3.4 | 22 May | 165.2 | 171.7 | average | 96% |
| Eddystone Point | 20.1 | +2.0 | 28.7 | 6 Mar | 12.3 | +0.8 | 3.9 | 12 May | 124.8 | 188.1 | low | 66% |
| Fingal (Legge Street) | 19.3 | +1.0 | 31.6 | 4 Mar | 5.9 | +0.5 | -6.4 | 22 May | 180.0 | 145.9 | high | 123% |
| Friendly Beaches | 19.8 | +1.1 | 30.9 | 17 Mar | 10.5 | +0.6 | 0.3 | 23 May | 104.0 | 150.1 | average | 69% |
| Lake Leake (Elizabeth River) | 15.2 | +0.9 | 25.8 | 4 Mar | 4.6 | +0.5 | -5.1 | 23 May | 157.4 | 204.6 | average | 77% |
| Maria Island (Point Lesueur) | 18.8 | 27.2 | 19 Mar | 12.1 | 5.7 | 23 May | 104.2 | |||||
| Orford (Aubin Court) | 18.7 | +0.5 | 28.5 | 25 Mar | 9.5 | +1.1 | 0.4 | 23 May | 184.2 | 161.6 | average | 114% |
| Scamander | 19.7 | +1.0 | 30.8 | 17 Mar | 10.5 | +0.8 | 1.0 | 22 May | 100.1 | 182.8 | low | 55% |
| St Helens Aerodrome | 19.7 | 29.7 | 6 Mar | 10.3 | 1.2 | 22 May | 105.2 | 134.6 | average | 78% | ||
| Swan Island | 18.6 | 24.4 | 17 Mar | 13.3 | 6.3 | 21 May | 145.2 | |||||
| Swansea Post Office | 19.7 | +1.2 | 29.8 | 25 Mar | 8.4 | +0.1 | -1.0 | 23 May | 217.5 | 148.6 | high | 146% |
| Midlands (district 93) | ||||||||||||
| Ross (The Boulevards) | 18.8 | +1.0 | 30.1 | 4 Mar | 5.8 | +0.2 | -6.5 | 23 May | 117.0 | 94.6 | average | 124% |
| Southeast (district 94) | ||||||||||||
| Campania (Kincora) | 20.3 | 31.2 | 25 Mar | 8.0 | -2.3 | 22 May | 58.4 | 95.8 | low | 61% | ||
| Cape Bruny (Cape Bruny) | 17.3 | +1.0 | 27.5 | 25 Mar | 10.9 | +0.9 | 4.3 | 23 May | 131.6 | 161.0 | v low | 82% |
| Cape Bruny Lighthouse | 16.8 | +1.3 | 26.6 | 25 Mar | 11.0 | +1.3 | 4.0 | 12 May | 172.6 | 231.8 | low | 74% |
| Dover | 17.7 | +0.9 | 27.9 | 15 Mar | 7.6 | +0.3 | -1.0 | 24 May | 142.8 | 202.2 | average | 71% |
| Geeveston (Cemetery Road) | 18.1 | +0.8 | 30.2 | 7 Mar | 7.2 | +0.8 | -3.3 | 24 May | 145.0 | 191.6 | low | 76% |
| Grove (Research Station) | 19.0 | 30.2 | 7 Mar | 6.2 | -3.4 | 23 May | 96.2 | |||||
| Hobart (Ellerslie Road) | 19.2 | +1.9 | 29.8 | 25 Mar | 10.3 | +1.4 | 1.1 | 23 May | 72.8 | 142.5 | v low | 51% |
| Hobart Airport | 19.5 | +1.5 | 30.5 | 25 Mar | 9.5 | +0.8 | 1.2 | 23 May | 65.0 | 113.3 | low | 57% |
| Maatsuyker Island Lighthouse | 15.2 | +0.7 | 24.5 | 7 Mar | 10.7 | +1.2 | 5.2 | 12 May | 258.6 | 308.4 | average | 84% |
| Melton Mowbray (North Stockman) | 18.6 | +1.2 | 30.4 | 4 Mar | 6.7 | +0.7 | -5.1 | 23 May | 80.0 | 86.6 | average | 92% |
| Mount Wellington | 9.4 | +1.0 | 22.4 | 25 Mar | 3.2 | +1.0 | -5.9 | 22 May | ||||
| Tasman Island | 15.9 | 26.0 | 25 Mar | 10.8 | 3.9 | 12 May | 189.4 | |||||
| Tunnack Fire Station | 16.4 | +0.9 | 27.5 | 4 Mar | 5.8 | +0.4 | -6.8 | 22 May | 114.6 | 131.8 | average | 87% |
| Derwent Valley (district 95) | ||||||||||||
| Bushy Park (Bushy Park Estates) | 19.8 | +1.8 | 31.7 | 4 Mar | 6.5 | +0.3 | -4.9 | 23 May | 71.2 | 131.2 | v low | 54% |
| Maydena Post Office | 17.0 | +0.9 | 28.2 | 5 Mar | 6.2 | +0.7 | -3.4 | 22 May | 210.0 | 248.8 | low | 84% |
| Ouse Fire Station | 19.1 | +0.6 | 32.4 | 4 Mar | 6.1 | +0.7 | -4.3 | 23 May | 71.4 | 88.7 | average | 80% |
| Tarraleah Village | 15.4 | +1.3 | 26.0 | 16 Mar | -3.5 | 22 May | 227.8 | 268.4 | average | 85% | ||
| Central Plateau (district 96) | ||||||||||||
| Butlers Gorge | 14.2 | +1.0 | 26.2 | 4 Mar | 4.0 | +0.6 | -5.9 | 24 May | 352.2 | 406.0 | average | 87% |
| Lake St Clair National Park | 14.1 | +0.8 | 27.2 | 4 Mar | 3.5 | +0.6 | -4.9 | 24 May | 400.4 | 400.2 | average | 100% |
| Liawenee | 13.1 | 25.6 | 4 Mar | 2.4 | -10.2 | 22 May | ||||||
| West Coast (district 97) | ||||||||||||
| Hartz Mountain (Keoghs Pimple) | 12.5 | +1.1 | 26.4 | 7 Mar | 5.5 | +0.8 | -1.2 | 12 May | 192.2 | 208.5 | low | 92% |
| Mount Read | 9.8 | +0.8 | 21.6 | 4 Mar | 4.4 | +1.0 | -2.4 | 22 May | 1150.0 | 960.6 | high | 120% |
| Scotts Peak Dam | 16.0 | +1.3 | 30.9 | 7 Mar | 7.4 | +0.6 | -0.5 | 24 May | 421.8 | |||
| Strahan Aerodrome | 17.6 | +0.9 | 27.8 | 7 Mar | 9.0 | +0.6 | -0.4 | 21 May | 434.6 | 342.9 | high | 127% |
| Strathgordon Village | 15.1 | +0.8 | 26.0 | 16 Mar | 7.4 | +0.5 | -0.4 | 22 May | 614.5 | 592.1 | average | 104% |
| Warra | 14.7 | 28.4 | 7 Mar | 6.5 | -2.5 | 22 May | 336.8 | |||||
| King Island (district 98) | ||||||||||||
| King Island Airport | 18.4 | +0.7 | 28.0 | 15 Mar | 11.6 | +1.1 | 1.2 | 22 May | 190.2 | 190.8 | average | 100% |
| Flinders Island (district 99) | ||||||||||||
| Flinders Island Airport | 19.5 | +0.8 | 30.1 | 17 Mar | 11.0 | +0.3 | -0.2 | 23 May | 135.0 | 188.0 | low | 72% |
| Hogan Island | 18.8 | 28.7 | 17 Mar | 13.9 | 8.3 | 12 May | 166.0 | |||||
| Antarctica and Macquarie Island (district 300) | ||||||||||||
| Macquarie Island | 7.1 | +0.2 | 9.8 | 9 Mar | 3.8 | +0.2 | -0.7 | 15 Apr | 287.2 | 276.3 | average | 104% |
Details Extremes Maps 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 Tuesday 1 June 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
