Wednesday, 1 June 2011 - Seasonal Climate Summary for Tasmania - Product code IDCKGC27R0
Tasmania in autumn 2011: Dry end but still wet overall in the east
In the east, flooding rain during March and April made it a wet autumn despite a dry May. The west was drier than usual due to a lack of active cold fronts. Temperatures were cooler than usual overall, and most sites had their coolest autumn since 2006.
- Downpours in the northeast during March and April
- Tasmania's third-wettest day on record
- Coolest since 2006 in most areas
- Coldest autumn day on record for Launceston
Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top
Downpours and flooding in the northeast
Two exceptionally heavy rainfall events affected the northeast
during
autumn as complex low pressure systems moved near the state. Many sites
in the east had their wettest
autumn day on record during one or other of these.
The
first exceptional rain occurred on 21-24 March and brought over 100 mm
to much of the
east and central north. The heaviest rain was in the northeast with 327
mm falling at Gray in 24 hours, making it Tasmania's
third-wettest
day on record. There was extreme flooding, including major
flooding of the South Esk river basin with near record peak
heights (for further details on this event see the Special Climate Statement).
The
second heavy rainfall event on 11-15 April brought over 100 mm to much
of the east, including 57 mm in an hour and 153 mm in a day at
Eddystone Point. Once again, significant flooding developed in the
northeast, though it was not as damaging as the March event.
Very wet in the northeast but dry in the west
Overall, autumn was wet in the east and dry in the west following a wet March and April in the east but a relatively dry May. Gladstone had its wettest autumn on record with 536 mm, of which only 26 mm fell in May. A number of other sites in the east had their highest total autumn rainfall for at least 20 years.
Rainfall totals were unusually well-distributed across the state. Mount Read was still the wettest site with 800 mm, but Gray in the northeast had almost as much rain, totalling 729 mm. Away from the mountains, most areas received around 200 mm for the whole of autumn. Only a few sites in the Derwent Valley had less than 100 mm, with Ouse (70 mm) being the driest site.
Cooler days, and coldest autumn day on record for Launceston
Average maximum temperatures for autumn were mostly around a degree cooler than usual in the east and half a degree cooler than usual elsewhere, making it the coolest autumn since 2006. Scottsdale and Orford (16.7 °C) had their lowest autumn mean daily maximum temperature on record.
There were several cold days, including the first week of autumn when snow fell to around 800 metres. Although it generally gets cooler through autumn, the coldest autumn day this year was on 4 March when the temperature at Mount Wellington didn't rise above -0.5 °C. There were no great extremes of temperatures during April, but May saw more very cold temperatures and mountain snow, especially from 8 to 14 May. On 12 May Launceston only reached 9.6 °C, its coldest autumn day on record.
The warmest days occurred during the second week of March and around 8 April. Ouse recorded the highest temperature, reaching 30.8 °C on 12 March.
Coolest autumn nights since 2006
Nights were mostly warm in March, near average in April, and mostly cold in May. The exception was the first week of March, which was much colder than usual. Liawenee fell to -5.3 °C in that week, and didn't dip to such low temperatures again until May. The coldest autumn temperature was -7.4 °C at Liawenee on 10 May. The warmest was 18.8 °C at Hogan Island on 13 March.
Over the whole season, overnight temperatures were slightly cooler than usual except for a few sites in the south. Most sites had their coolest autumn nights on average since 2006, and Orford (7.3 °C) had its lowest autumn mean daily minimum temperature since 1979.
Hobart: cooler and wetter than last autumn
There was quite a contrast between autumn 2010 and autumn 2011 in Hobart. Last autumn was much drier than usual with only 75 mm in total. This autumn 79 mm fell in a single day (on 13 April) — the wettest day in Hobart since 22 April 1960. The total autumn rain of 194 mm was over 50 mm wetter than usual, and it was the wettest autumn since 2003.
The average daytime maximum temperature in Hobart for autumn 2011 was 17.7 °C and the average overnight minimum was 9.3 °C. Both are about half a degree warmer than usual, but still much cooler than autumn 2010 (the warmest on record for Hobart) when average maximum and minimum temperatures were 19.2 °C and 10.3 °C respectively. This autumn, temperatures ranged from a minimum of 2.5 °C on 28 May to a maximum of 29.6 °C on 12 March.
Further information
- Media
- media@bom.gov.au (03) 9669 4057
- Enquiries
- helpdesk.climate@bom.gov.au
| Extremes in autumn 2011 | |
|---|---|
| Hottest day | 30.8 °C at Ouse Fire Station on
12 Mar |
| Warmest days on average | 18.5 °C at Eddystone Point |
| Coolest days on average | 8.2
°C at Mount
Wellington |
| Coldest day | -0.5 °C at Mount Wellington on
4 Mar |
| Coldest night | -7.4 °C at Liawenee on 10 May |
| Coolest nights on average | 1.7 °C at Liawenee |
| Warmest nights on average | 12.7 °C at Hogan Island |
| Warmest night | 18.8 °C at Hogan Island on 13
Mar |
| Warmest on average overall | 15.0 °C at Hogan Island |
| Coolest on average overall | 5.2
°C at Mount
Wellington |
| Wettest overall | 799.6 mm at Mount Read |
| Driest overall | 69.6 mm at Ouse Fire Station |
| Wettest day | 327.2 mm at Gray (Dalmayne Rd)
on 24 Mar |
| Highest wind gust | 128 km/h at Mount Wellington on 15 May |
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
| Record highest autumn daily rainfall | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Highest daily rainfall in autumn 2011 (mm) |
Previous wettest for autumn |
Years of record |
||||
| Longford (Denton Close) | 70.0 | on 24 Mar | 59.9 | on 8 Mar 1911 | 108 | |
| Connorville (Lake River) | 72.0 | on 24 Mar | 69.3 | on 23 Apr 1960 | 82 | |
| Gladstone (Old Post Office) | 149.8 | on 24 Mar | 139.2 | on 5 Apr 1929 | 70 | |
| Chain of Lagoons | 140.8 | on 24 Mar | 139.7 | on 3 Mar 1931 | 55 | |
| South Mount Cameron (Gladstone Road) | 150.8 | on 24 Mar | 98.0 | on 13 May 1960 | 54 | |
| German Town | 178.0 | on 24 Mar | 175.0 | on 27 Apr 1974 | 52 | |
| Seven Mile Beach (Royal Hobart Golf Club | 78.2 | on 13 Apr | 61.0 | on 23 Mar 1983 | 51 | |
| Pyengana (Forest Lodge Road) | 200.0 | on 24 Mar | 184.0 | on 18 May 1986 | 50 | |
| Taroona (Taroona Crescent) | 97.2 | on 13 Apr | 86.0 | on 23 Mar 1983 | 49 | |
| Perth (Forestry Nursery) | 57.0 | on 24 Mar | 47.0 | on 3 Mar 1981 | 47 | |
| Rushy Lagoon (Cape Portland Road) | 130.8 | on 24 Mar | 82.0 | on 18 May 1986 | 45 | |
| Musselboro (Elverton) | 70.0 | on 24 Mar | 52.2 | on 8 Apr 2010 | 43 | |
| Evandale (Cambock Lane) | 74.4 | on 24 Mar | 67.3 | on 22 Apr 1960 | 41 | |
| Burns Creek (Janefield) | 66.2 | on 24 Mar | =66.2 | on 26 May 1987 | 39 | |
| Risdon Vale (Poplar Road) | 88.4 | on 13 Apr | 55.9 | on 21 Apr 1965 | 32 | |
| Blackmans Bay Treatment Plant | 92.2 | on 13 Apr | 80.0 | on 22 Mar 1983 | 30 | |
| Bull Bay (Lauriston) | 75.0 | on 13 Apr | 70.0 | on 21 Mar 2003 | 28 | |
| Nugent (Twilight Valley) | 80.6 | on 13 Apr | 80.4 | on 19 May 1986 | 28 | |
| Tea Tree (The Point) | 74.4 | on 13 Apr | 53.2 | on 21 Mar 2003 | 26 | |
| Richmond (Strathayr) | 55.2 | on 13 Apr | 47.0 | on 17 Apr 1996 | 23 | |
| Bell Bay (Temco) | 53.0 | on 24 Mar | 47.0 | on 5 Apr 1999 | 22 | |
| Three Hummock Island | 112.4 | on 23 Mar | 41.1 | on 24 Apr 1952 | 20 | |
| Record highest total autumn rainfall | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Total rainfall for autumn 2011 (mm) |
Previous wettest for autumn |
Years of record |
Average for autumn |
||
| Gladstone (Old Post Office) | 535.6 | 416.7 | in 1931 | 81 | 212.2 |
| Highest total autumn rainfall for at least 20 years | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Total rainfall for autumn 2011 (mm) |
Most recent autumn at least this wet |
Years since wetter |
Average for autumn |
||
| Eddystone Point | 426.6 | 580.9 | in 1960 | 50 | 190.5 |
| Avoca (Railway House) | 208.0 | 212.3 | in 1973 | 37 | 125.2 |
| Lewis Hill (St Pauls River) | 312.0 | 321.2 | in 1974 | 36 | 155.6 |
| Deal Island | 291.0 | 358.6 | in 1974 | 35 | 185.9 |
| Tooms Lake (Tooms River) | 257.8 | 303.3 | in 1970 | 28 | 148.0 |
| Scamander | 362.1 | 650.6 | in 1974 | 27 | 189.4 |
| York Plains (Handroyd) | 163.4 | 198.2 | in 1986 | 25 | 131.8 |
| Orford (Aubin Court) | 246.8 | 296.3 | in 1986 | 24 | 162.4 |
| Pioneer (Main Road) | 424.2 | 440.0 | in 1989 | 22 | 229.7 |
| Record lowest autumn daily maximum temperature | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Lowest daily maximum temperature in autumn 2011 (°C) |
Previous coolest for autumn |
Years of record |
Average for autumn |
|||
| Launceston (Ti Tree Bend) | 9.6 | on 12 May | 9.8 | on 21 May 1982 | 30 | 19.0 |
| Record lowest autumn mean daily maximum temperature | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Mean daily maximum temperature for autumn 2011 (°C) |
Previous coolest for autumn |
Years of record |
Average for autumn |
||
| Orford (Aubin Court) | 16.7 | = 16.7 | in 1996 | 42 | 18.2 |
| Scottsdale (West Minstone Road) | 16.7 | 16.8 | in 2006 | 31 | 18.1 |
| Lowest autumn mean daily minimum temperature for at least 20 years | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Mean daily minimum temperature for autumn 2011 (°C) |
Most recent autumn at least this cool |
Years since cooler |
Average for autumn |
||
| Orford (Aubin Court) | 7.3 | 7.1 | in 1979 | 32 | 8.4 |
| Record lowest autumn mean temperature | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Mean daily temperature for autumn 2011 (°C) |
Previous coolest for autumn |
Years of record |
Average for autumn |
||
| Orford (Aubin Court) | 12.0 | 12.2 | in 2006 | 42 | 13.3 |
Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top
| Summary statistics for autumn 2011 | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maximum temperatures for autumn (°C) |
Minimum temperatures for autumn (°C) |
Rainfall for autumn (millimetres) |
||||||||||
| Mean for autumn 2011 |
Diff from average |
Highest for autumn 2011 |
Mean for autumn 2011 |
Diff from average |
Lowest for autumn 2011 |
Total for autumn 2011 |
Average for autumn |
Rank of autumn 2011 |
Fraction of autumn average |
|||
| Northern (district 91) | ||||||||||||
| Bridport (Sea View Villas) | 17.5 | -0.8 | 24.0 | 13 Mar | 9.3 | -0.4 | 1.2 | 14 May | 265.5 | 165.7 | v high | 160% |
| Burnie (Round Hill) | 17.7 | 0.0 | 23.9 | 13 Mar | 10.1 | 0.0 | 3.0 | 14 May | 129.2 | 217.4 | low | 59% |
| Cape Grim | 15.8 | 21.0 | 21 Mar | 11.1 | 3.9 | 5 Mar | 189.2 | |||||
| Cape Grim BAPS (Comparison) | 16.0 | -0.6 | 20.8 | 15 Mar | 11.1 | -0.4 | 4.2 | 5 Mar | 198.0 | 184.2 | average | 107% |
| Cressy Research Station | 17.4 | -1.3 | 27.8 | 13 Mar | 5.5 | -0.2 | -5.3 | 28 May | 206.2 | 127.9 | v high | 161% |
| Devonport Airport | 17.1 | -0.7 | 24.0 | 21 Mar | 8.4 | -0.3 | -0.5 | 28 May | 207.2 | 181.4 | average | 114% |
| Launceston (Ti Tree Bend) | 18.4 | -0.6 | 26.4 | 21 Mar | 7.1 | -0.5 | -2.0 | 28 May | 194.7 | 151.9 | high | 128% |
| Launceston Airport | 17.5 | 27.3 | 13 Mar | 6.0 | -3.8 | 29 May | 198.6 | |||||
| Low Head | 17.0 | -0.7 | 22.3 | 10 Mar | 10.7 | -0.5 | 3.3 | 29 May | 269.0 | 155.4 | v high | 173% |
| Luncheon Hill (Forestry) | 15.2 | -0.6 | 23.1 | 10 Mar | 7.9 | -0.3 | 1.2 | 9 May | 232.6 | 338.2 | v low | 69% |
| Marrawah | 16.4 | -0.6 | 22.0 | 21 Mar | 10.1 | -0.2 | 3.5 | 5 Mar | 205.6 | 253.3 | low | 81% |
| Scottsdale (West Minstone Road) | 16.7 | -1.4 | 24.0 | 13 Mar | 7.2 | -0.7 | -0.3 | 14 May | 256.0 | 231.7 | average | 110% |
| Sheffield School Farm | 15.8 | -0.9 | 23.0 | 21 Mar | 6.6 | -0.7 | -0.6 | 10 May | 232.8 | 200.4 | average | 116% |
| Smithton Aerodrome | 17.1 | -0.7 | 23.8 | 13 Mar | 7.7 | -0.1 | -2.9 | 10 May | 130.2 | 179.4 | low | 73% |
| Wynyard Airport | 17.4 | -0.1 | 26.0 | 13 Mar | 7.0 | -0.3 | -2.0 | 28 May | 152.0 | 217.0 | low | 70% |
| East Coast (district 92) | ||||||||||||
| Bicheno (Council Depot) | 17.9 | -0.8 | 25.7 | 13 Mar | 9.9 | -0.4 | 2.5 | 12 May | 336.2 | 173.6 | v high | 194% |
| Eddystone Point | 18.5 | +0.4 | 25.6 | 9 Mar | 11.0 | -0.5 | 3.1 | 14 May | 426.6 | 190.5 | v high | 224% |
| Fingal (Legge Street) | 17.3 | -1.1 | 29.0 | 13 Mar | 5.3 | -0.1 | -4.6 | 29 May | 288.4 | 147.1 | v high | 196% |
| Friendly Beaches | 17.8 | -1.0 | 29.0 | 13 Mar | 9.6 | -0.4 | 1.6 | 29 May | 285.0 | 161.3 | high | 177% |
| Lake Leake (Elizabeth River) | 13.5 | -0.9 | 23.8 | 13 Mar | 4.0 | -0.1 | -5.9 | 28 May | 245.0 | 205.0 | high | 120% |
| Maria Island (Point Lesueur) | 16.4 | 25.2 | 13 Mar | 10.8 | 5.1 | 14 May | 198.8 | |||||
| Orford (Aubin Court) | 16.7 | -1.5 | 25.0 | 8 Apr | 7.3 | -1.1 | -0.5 | 31 May | 246.8 | 162.4 | high | 152% |
| Scamander | 17.9 | -0.8 | 29.0 | 13 Mar | 9.3 | -0.4 | 3.0 | 29 May | 362.1 | 189.4 | v high | 191% |
| St Helens Aerodrome | 17.7 | -0.8 | 27.5 | 13 Mar | 9.0 | -0.5 | 1.3 | 29 May | 420.6 | 160.7 | v high | 262% |
| Swan Island | 17.4 | 23.9 | 13 Mar | 12.0 | 5.4 | 12 May | 304.6 | 156.3 | v high | 195% | ||
| Swansea (Maria Street) | 17.5 | 30.5 | 13 Mar | 7.3 | -2.1 | 28 May | 273.2 | |||||
| Midlands (district 93) | ||||||||||||
| Ross (The Boulevards) | 16.9 | -0.9 | 28.5 | 13 Mar | 5.6 | 0.0 | -6.2 | 28 May | 144.8 | 97.4 | high | 149% |
| Southeast (district 94) | ||||||||||||
| Bull Bay (Lauriston) | 16.6 | -0.8 | 25.0 | 12 Mar | 9.0 | -0.7 | 3.9 | 10 May | 208.4 | 131.0 | high | 159% |
| Campania (Kincora) | 18.1 | -0.9 | 29.3 | 12 Mar | 7.7 | +0.1 | 0.1 | 28 May | 162.4 | 101.9 | high | 159% |
| Cape Bruny (Cape Bruny) | 15.8 | -0.6 | 25.0 | 8 Mar | 9.7 | -0.4 | 4.4 | 14 May | 200.8 | 163.9 | high | 123% |
| Cape Bruny Lighthouse | 15.3 | -0.2 | 24.0 | 8 Mar | 9.8 | +0.1 | 4.7 | 15 May | 238.8 | 231.8 | average | 103% |
| Dover | 16.4 | -0.5 | 25.0 | 8 Mar | 7.0 | -0.3 | 0.4 | 10 May | 210.6 | 202.2 | average | 104% |
| Geeveston (Cemetery Road) | 16.8 | -0.5 | 28.5 | 12 Mar | 7.0 | +0.6 | -0.8 | 10 May | 183.8 | 191.4 | average | 96% |
| Grove (Research Station) | 17.1 | 29.1 | 12 Mar | 5.8 | -1.8 | 28 May | 186.8 | |||||
| Hobart (Ellerslie Road) | 17.7 | +0.4 | 29.6 | 12 Mar | 9.3 | +0.4 | 2.5 | 28 May | 194.2 | 142.9 | high | 136% |
| Hobart Airport | 17.6 | -0.4 | 28.8 | 13 Mar | 9.1 | +0.4 | 2.0 | 26 May | 167.6 | 114.4 | high | 147% |
| Maatsuyker Island Lighthouse | 13.9 | -0.6 | 22.6 | 7 Mar | 9.6 | +0.1 | 4.3 | 14 May | 235.2 | 307.8 | low | 76% |
| Melton Mowbray (North Stockman) | 16.7 | -0.8 | 29.4 | 12 Mar | 6.1 | 0.0 | -3.1 | 10 May | 121.2 | 88.9 | high | 136% |
| Mount Wellington | 8.2 | -0.2 | 19.2 | 12 Mar | 2.3 | +0.1 | -4.0 | 14 May | 415.6 | 230.0 | high | 181% |
| Tasman Island | 14.0 | 21.1 | 8 Mar | 9.4 | 3.4 | 14 May | 245.6 | |||||
| Tunnack Fire Station | 14.5 | -1.1 | 25.6 | 13 Mar | 5.4 | 0.0 | -4.0 | 28 May | 268.2 | 141.5 | v high | 190% |
| Derwent Valley (district 95) | ||||||||||||
| Bushy Park (Bushy Park Estates) | 18.4 | +0.4 | 29.3 | 12 Mar | 5.7 | -0.5 | -2.1 | 9 May | 72.6 | 130.9 | v low | 55% |
| Maydena Post Office | 15.5 | -0.7 | 27.7 | 12 Mar | 5.8 | +0.3 | -1.5 | 5 Mar | 164.7 | 244.6 | low | 67% |
| Ouse Fire Station | 18.0 | -0.5 | 30.8 | 12 Mar | 5.3 | -0.1 | -3.8 | 31 May | 69.6 | 87.0 | low | 80% |
| Tarraleah Village | 13.7 | -0.5 | 25.0 | 12 Mar | 4.6 | +0.5 | -2.5 | 5 Mar | 215.3 | 267.4 | average | 81% |
| Central Plateau (district 96) | ||||||||||||
| Butlers Gorge | 13.0 | -0.2 | 23.5 | 12 Mar | 3.5 | +0.1 | -4.4 | 5 Mar | 314.0 | 404.4 | low | 78% |
| Lake St Clair National Park | 12.9 | -0.4 | 23.6 | 12 Mar | 3.2 | +0.3 | -4.9 | 10 May | 334.4 | 397.0 | low | 84% |
| Liawenee | 11.9 | -0.6 | 21.5 | 28 Mar | 1.7 | 0.0 | -7.4 | 10 May | 159.0 | 204.4 | low | 78% |
| West Coast (district 97) | ||||||||||||
| Hartz Mountain (Keoghs Pimple) | 10.6 | -0.9 | 22.8 | 12 Mar | 4.6 | -0.1 | -1.2 | 14 May | 266.0 | 212.9 | v high | 125% |
| Mount Read | 8.6 | -0.5 | 18.8 | 12 Mar | 3.1 | -0.4 | -2.4 | 14 May | 799.6 | 949.1 | low | 84% |
| Scotts Peak Dam | 14.5 | -0.3 | 28.2 | 12 Mar | 6.8 | 0.0 | 0.9 | 14 May | 412.4 | |||
| Strahan Aerodrome | 16.5 | -0.2 | 27.8 | 12 Mar | 8.7 | +0.3 | 0.8 | 5 Mar | 269.0 | 353.1 | v low | 76% |
| Strathgordon Village | 13.9 | -0.4 | 25.8 | 12 Mar | 6.9 | -0.1 | 1.4 | 12 May | 452.6 | 588.7 | low | 77% |
| Warra | 13.1 | 25.2 | 12 Mar | 5.7 | -1.3 | 5 Mar | 357.2 | |||||
| King Island (district 98) | ||||||||||||
| King Island Airport | 17.1 | -0.6 | 26.3 | 12 Mar | 10.6 | +0.1 | 3.8 | 28 May | 203.0 | 191.2 | average | 106% |
| Flinders Island (district 99) | ||||||||||||
| Flinders Island Airport | 18.0 | -0.7 | 28.5 | 13 Mar | 10.3 | -0.4 | 0.0 | 10 May | 187.8 | 188.6 | average | 100% |
| Hogan Island | 17.3 | 26.0 | 13 Mar | 12.7 | 6.9 | 11 May | 311.6 | |||||
| Antarctica and Macquarie Island (district 300) | ||||||||||||
| Macquarie Island | 6.9 | 0.0 | 9.9 | 9 Mar | 3.2 | -0.4 | -2.4 | 28 May | 268.6 | 276.0 | average | 97% |
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 9 am on Wednesday 1 June 2011. 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
