Monday, 3 December 2012 - Seasonal Climate Summary for Tasmania - Product code IDCKGC27R0
Tasmania in spring 2012: dry with warm days
Spring rainfall was generally below average following dry conditions in October and November, though a few areas received close to average spring rain. Maximum temperatures were up to one degree warmer than normal, whilst minimum temperatures were close to average.
- Below average spring rainfall for most
- Tea Tree's wettest spring day on record
- Warmest spring day on record at Strahan and Lake St Clair
- Warmest spring night on record for a few sites
- Many strong wind events
Monthly summaries have also been prepared for September, October and November.
Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top
A wet start and a dry finish
Spring rainfall was generally below average across Tasmania, although a few areas received close to average spring rain. This was largely a result of dry conditions in October and November, which outweighed average to above average rainfall in September. Hobart Airport was the driest location recording only 93 mm.
The wettest periods of spring were all in September, with the heaviest rainfall observed between the 5th and the 9th. A cold front on 5 September produced the highest daily rainfall totals, with up to around 50 mm recorded in the north, west and central areas. Liffey (Gulf Road) recorded 52 mm in the 24 hours to 9am on 6 September with this event, the wettest day in Tasmania this spring. A low pressure system in the Tasman Sea produced heavy rain in the southeast on 21 September. Tea Tree recorded 37 mm in the 24 hours to 9am on 22 September, its highest spring daily rainfall on record.
The wettest overall was Mount Read with at least 970 mm (some snow is likely to have been lost), followed by Lake Margaret Power Station with 849.8 mm.
A very warm end to spring, but there were cold days too
Most sites had their warmest day of spring on 30 November when warm air from a heatwave affecting the southeastern mainland was brought over Tasmania; Orford reaching 34.2 °C. The 29th was also very warm, with both Strahan and Lake St Clair recording their highest spring temperature on record. There were several other warm days, with notable early spring warmth on 4 and 5 September when temperatures rose into the low twenties on the East Coast and mid-teens elsewhere.
There were many cold spring days too: on 6 October Scamander and Strahan recorded their coldest October day on record in the wake of a cold front. 29 September was particularly cold when a trough brought showers, thunderstorms, hail and snow down to 400 m. Mount Wellington recorded a maximum temperature of only -1.8 °C on this day, the coldest day of spring.
Overall, spring days were up to one degree warmer than average in most areas, with some sites up to two degrees warmer than normal, though days were not as warm as spring last year. Mount Wellington recorded its highest spring mean daily maximum temperature on record, whilst Launceston observed its warmest spring days in 22 years.
A mix of both warm and cold nights
The morning of 30 November was notably warm, when temperatures in the mid to high teens were common and Cape Bruny, Strathgordon and Lake St Clair set new spring minimum temperature records. Strahan observed the warmest night of the season on this morning, with 19.3 °C. The morning of 6 November was also warm, with minimum temperatures up around 15 degrees in most areas.
There were also some very cold nights in spring, especially at the start of September when Liawenee recorded a minimum of -7.0 °C on the 1st, and -6.2 °C on the 4th. There were also many cold nights through October, and a few in November.
Overall, minimum temperatures were generally close to average for spring.
Many strong wind events
There were several strong wind events this spring. 6 to 9 September saw a series of vigorous cold fronts produce wind gusts in excess of 100 km/h. The strongest wind gust of 159 km/h was recorded at Hogan Island on the 7th, with a wind gust of 156 km/h observed at Mount Wellington on the 9th. On 4 October an intense low pressure system passed to the south of Tasmania, producing wind gusts in excess of 130 km/h at exposed sites and 90 to 100 km/h in urban areas. The strong winds in both events felled trees and caused damage to property and widespread power outages. Some weak tornadoes were seen around Hobart on 9 November, but these did not result in especially strong winds.
Warm and dry in Hobart
Both maximum and minimum temperatures were warmer than average in Hobart this spring, by 1 °C for maximums and 0.8 °C for minimums. Days above 20 °C were spread throughout, but the warmest day was on the last day of the season, when the temperature rose to 33.7 °C. There were also a few cold spring days, most of those in September, but none were especially cold.
September saw many warmer than average nights, with a few in October and November. Most of the cold nights were in September, with the lowest spring temperature of 2.8 °C observed on the 1st.
The 29th and 30th of November were the warmest this spring. Hobart having dipped to 18.8 °C at 9 am on the 29th, it rose to 30.2 °C that afternoon. The night of the 29th/30th was very warm, with the temperature only falling to 22.1 °C around 6 am on the 30th. The overnight minimum of 22.1 °C is not an "official" record, but the 18.8 °C is still Hobart's 5th-warmest spring minimum.
Hobart's spring rainfall of 122 mm was almost 50 mm below the long-term average of 169 mm. It rained on 40 days of spring, which is close to the average of 45 days, but daily totals were typically in the order of a few millimetres or less. The wettest days were on 7 and 21 September when close to 15 mm was recorded in the 24 hours to 9am on the 8th and 22nd respectively.
Further information
- Media
- media@bom.gov.au (03) 9669 4057
- Enquiries
- helpdesk.climate@bom.gov.au
| Extremes in spring 2012 | |
|---|---|
| Hottest day | 34.2 °C at Orford (Aubin Court) on 30 Nov |
| Warmest days on average | 18.8 °C at Bushy Park (Bushy Park Estates) |
| Coolest days on average | 8.4 °C at Mount Wellington |
| Coldest day | -1.8 °C at Mount Wellington on 29 Sep |
| Coldest night | -7.0 °C at Liawenee on 1 Sep |
| Coolest nights on average | 0.9 °C at Mount Wellington |
| Warmest nights on average | 10.4 °C at Swan Island |
| Warmest night | 19.3 °C at Strahan Aerodrome on 30 Nov |
| Warmest on average overall | 13.7 °C at Larapuna (Eddystone Point) |
| Coolest on average overall | 4.6 °C at Mount Wellington |
| Wettest overall | 970.4 mm at Mount Read* 849.8 mm at Lake Margaret Power Station |
| Driest overall | 93.0 mm at Hobart Airport |
| Wettest day | 52.4 mm at Liffey (Gulf Road) on 6 Sep |
| Highest wind gust | 159 km/h at Hogan Island on 7 Sep 156 km/h at Mount Wellington on 9 Sep |
* The true total at Mount Read is probably higher, as it is likely some snow was lost.
Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top
| Maps | |||
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| 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 spring daily rainfall | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Highest daily rainfall in spring 2012 (mm) |
Previous wettest for spring |
Years of record |
||||
| Tea Tree (The Point) | 36.8 | on 22 Sep | 35.2 | on 12 Sep 2005 | 27 | |
| Record highest spring temperature | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Highest temperature in spring 2012 (°C) |
Previous warmest for spring |
Years of record |
Average for spring |
|||
| Strahan Aerodrome | 32.7 | on 29 Nov | 31.9 | on 22 Nov 1997 | 24 | 16.0 |
| Lake St Clair National Park | 28.7 | on 29 Nov | 28.0 | on 8 Nov 2009 | 23 | 12.7 |
| Record highest spring mean daily maximum temperature | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Mean daily maximum temperature for spring 2012 (°C) |
Previous warmest for spring |
Years of record |
Average for spring |
||
| Mount Wellington | 8.4 | 8.3 | in 2007 | 28 | 7.0 |
| Highest spring mean daily maximum temperature for at least 20 years | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Mean daily maximum temperature for spring 2012 (°C) |
Most recent spring at least this warm |
Years since warmer |
Average for spring |
||
| Launceston (Ti Tree Bend) | 18.7 | 19.3 | in 1987* | 22 | 18.0 |
* note: there are gaps in the historical record at this site, so it is possible a higher value has gone unreported.
| Record highest spring daily minimum temperature | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Highest daily minimum temperature in spring 2012 (°C) |
Previous warmest for spring |
Years of record |
Average for spring |
|||
| Cape Bruny Lighthouse | 17.7 | on 30 Nov | 17.5 | on 12 Oct 2006 | 56 | 8.0 |
| Strathgordon Village | 17.8 | on 30 Nov | 16.2 | on 3 Nov 2005 | 31 | 5.6 |
| Lake St Clair National Park | 15.6 | on 30 Nov | 14.2 | on 30 Nov 2003 | 23 | 2.2 |
Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top
| Summary statistics for spring 2012 | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maximum temperatures for spring (°C) |
Minimum temperatures for spring (°C) |
Rainfall for spring (millimetres) |
||||||||||
| Mean for spring 2012 |
Diff from average |
Highest for spring 2012 |
Mean for spring 2012 |
Diff from average |
Lowest for spring 2012 |
Total for spring 2012 |
Average for spring |
Rank of spring 2012 |
Fraction of spring average |
|||
| Northern (district 91) | ||||||||||||
| Bridport (Sea View Villas) | 16.6 | +0.1 | 23.0 | 30 Nov | 7.8 | -0.5 | 1.4 | 28 Oct | 113.6 | 180.2 | low | 63% |
| Burnie (Round Hill) | 16.9 | +0.9 | 25.8 | 30 Nov | 8.8 | +0.6 | 3.3 | 1 Sep | 182.9 | 242.3 | low | 75% |
| Cape Grim | 14.4 | 21.6 | 30 Nov | 9.6 | 4.9 | 29 Sep | 171.6 | |||||
| Cape Grim BAPS (Comparison) | 15.0 | +0.4 | 22.0 | 30 Nov | 9.5 | 0.0 | 4.7 | 29 Sep | 177.4 | 192.2 | average | 92% |
| Cressy Research Station | 17.7 | +0.3 | 29.9 | 30 Nov | 5.1 | -0.3 | -2.4 | 15 Sep | 138.2 | 163.6 | average | 84% |
| Devonport Airport | 16.4 | +0.5 | 23.7 | 5 Nov | 7.3 | -0.2 | -0.3 | 1 Sep | 159.8 | 196.4 | average | 81% |
| Launceston (Ti Tree Bend) | 18.7 | +0.7 | 28.1 | 30 Nov | 7.0 | 0.0 | 0.2 | 7 Oct | 162.4 | 167.6 | average | 97% |
| Launceston Airport | 17.9 | 28.8 | 30 Nov | 5.4 | -1.4 | 4 Sep | 137.8 | |||||
| Low Head | 15.6 | +0.1 | 21.0 | 29 Nov | 9.6 | -0.1 | 3.9 | 7 Oct | 95.8 | 165.3 | v low | 58% |
| Luncheon Hill (Forestry) | 15.4 | +0.6 | 25.7 | 30 Oct | 6.5 | +0.2 | 0.5 | 1 Sep | 370.2 | 405.5 | average | 91% |
| Marrawah | 15.4 | +0.3 | 22.5 | 29 Nov | 8.7 | +0.4 | 3.7 | 1 Sep | 205.6 | 263.6 | low | 78% |
| Scottsdale (West Minstone Road) | 16.9 | +0.5 | 27.7 | 30 Nov | 6.0 | -0.1 | -0.9 | 2 Sep | 153.4 | 250.1 | low | 61% |
| Sheffield School Farm | 16.2 | +0.8 | 26.3 | 30 Nov | 5.8 | -0.2 | -0.4 | 1 Sep | ||||
| Smithton Aerodrome | 16.6 | +0.1 | 26.3 | 30 Nov | 6.8 | -0.5 | -0.3 | 1 Sep | 164.2 | 239.0 | v low | 69% |
| Wynyard Airport | 17.0 | +0.9 | 28.7 | 30 Nov | 6.3 | 0.0 | -0.9 | 1 Sep | 203.2 | 260.3 | low | 78% |
| East Coast (district 92) | ||||||||||||
| Bicheno (Council Depot) | 17.4 | +0.1 | 26.2 | 4 Oct | 8.8 | +0.2 | 3.0 | 15 Sep | 140.8 | 157.6 | average | 89% |
| Fingal (Legge Street) | 18.0 | +0.6 | 31.6 | 30 Nov | 4.6 | -0.5 | -3.4 | 15 Sep | 124.4 | 148.7 | average | 84% |
| Friendly Beaches | 18.4 | +0.3 | 34.0 | 30 Nov | 8.3 | -0.5 | 0.8 | 2 Sep | 156.2 | 149.9 | average | 104% |
| Lake Leake (Elizabeth River) | 14.2 | +0.6 | 27.0 | 30 Nov | 3.6 | 0.0 | -4.5 | 2 Sep | 162.5 | 208.9 | low | 78% |
| Larapuna (Eddystone Point) | 18.1 | +1.7 | 26.9 | 30 Nov | 9.4 | +0.1 | 4.2 | 11 Oct | 136.2 | 193.0 | low | 71% |
| Maria Island (Point Lesueur) | 16.5 | 30.8 | 30 Nov | 9.5 | 4.6 | 8 Sep | 98.0 | |||||
| Orford (Aubin Court) | 17.3 | +0.1 | 34.2 | 30 Nov | 7.8 | +0.5 | 0.8 | 15 Sep | 125.7 | 175.9 | low | 71% |
| Scamander | 17.9 | +0.3 | 31.2 | 30 Nov | 8.0 | -0.3 | 1.5 | 25 Sep | 131.7 | 180.1 | low | 73% |
| St Helens Aerodrome | 17.9 | +0.4 | 29.1 | 30 Nov | 8.0 | -0.2 | 1.4 | 2 Sep | 152.4 | 192.3 | low | 79% |
| Swan Island | 16.3 | +0.3 | 24.8 | 30 Nov | 10.4 | +0.1 | 5.1 | 7 Oct | ||||
| Swansea (Francis Street) | 17.7 | 33.4 | 30 Nov | 7.2 | -0.2 | 2 Sep | 104.9 | |||||
| Midlands (district 93) | ||||||||||||
| Ross (The Boulevards) | 17.7 | +0.6 | 30.9 | 30 Nov | 5.1 | 0.0 | -3.1 | 15 Sep | 139.0 | 144.0 | average | 97% |
| Southeast (district 94) | ||||||||||||
| Bull Bay (Lauriston) | 32.7 | 30 Nov | 8.4 | +0.4 | 3.7 | 8 Sep | 143.2 | 163.3 | average | 88% | ||
| Campania (Kincora) | 18.2 | 0.0 | 34.1 | 30 Nov | 6.9 | +0.2 | 0.4 | 3 Nov | 129.8 | 133.7 | average | 97% |
| Cape Bruny (Cape Bruny) | 15.9 | +0.4 | 28.6 | 30 Nov | 8.4 | 0.0 | 4.2 | 30 Sep | 238.8 | 198.3 | high | 120% |
| Cape Bruny Lighthouse | 15.2 | +0.8 | 28.4 | 30 Nov | 8.5 | +0.5 | 3.1 | 25 Sep | 241.6 | 240.4 | average | 100% |
| Dover | 16.6 | +0.5 | 30.5 | 30 Nov | 6.4 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 7 Oct | 215.0 | 240.2 | average | 90% |
| Dunalley (Stroud Point) | 17.3 | 34.1 | 30 Nov | 9.0 | 2.6 | 2 Sep | 111.4 | |||||
| Geeveston (Cemetery Road) | 17.1 | +0.7 | 29.2 | 30 Nov | 6.3 | +0.2 | -1.9 | 2 Sep | 226.2 | 254.8 | average | 89% |
| Grove (Research Station) | 17.5 | 31.0 | 30 Nov | 5.5 | -1.3 | 2 Sep | 157.1 | |||||
| Hobart (Ellerslie Road) | 17.9 | +1.0 | 33.7 | 30 Nov | 8.6 | +0.8 | 2.8 | 1 Sep | 121.8 | 169.1 | low | 72% |
| Hobart Airport | 17.9 | +0.7 | 33.9 | 30 Nov | 8.1 | +0.5 | 1.9 | 2 Sep | 93.0 | 132.6 | low | 70% |
| Maatsuyker Island Lighthouse | 13.5 | +0.2 | 26.2 | 29 Nov | 8.1 | +0.6 | 2.9 | 24 Sep | 247.2 | 307.7 | low | 80% |
| Melton Mowbray (North Stockman) | 17.2 | +0.2 | 31.5 | 30 Nov | 5.7 | -0.1 | -0.6 | 2 Sep | 124.4 | 136.1 | average | 91% |
| Mount Wellington | 8.4 | +1.4 | 22.7 | 30 Nov | 0.9 | +0.7 | -5.4 | 1 Sep | ||||
| Tasman Island | 14.0 | +0.2 | 29.2 | 30 Nov | 8.0 | +0.3 | 2.8 | 8 Sep | 224.2 | 204.9 | average | 109% |
| Tunnack Fire Station | 14.9 | +0.2 | 29.9 | 30 Nov | 4.4 | -0.2 | -2.5 | 3 Nov | 185.2 | 186.7 | average | 99% |
| Derwent Valley (district 95) | ||||||||||||
| Bushy Park (Bushy Park Estates) | 18.8 | +1.1 | 32.0 | 30 Nov | 5.8 | +0.1 | -2.4 | 2 Sep | 125.4 | 164.3 | low | 76% |
| Maydena Post Office | 16.2 | +0.5 | 30.6 | 29 Nov | 5.3 | +0.4 | -1.4 | 1 Sep | 268.9 | 348.3 | low | 77% |
| Ouse Fire Station | 18.7 | +0.6 | 32.6 | 29 Nov | 5.4 | 0.0 | -3.1 | 1 Sep | 111.2 | 164.1 | v low | 68% |
| Central Plateau (district 96) | ||||||||||||
| Butlers Gorge | 13.4 | +1.1 | 29.0 | 29 Nov | 2.7 | +0.3 | -5.3 | 2 Sep | 429.8 | 467.7 | average | 92% |
| Lake St Clair National Park | 13.6 | +0.9 | 28.7 | 29 Nov | 2.3 | +0.1 | -4.1 | 4 Sep | 501.8 | 529.4 | average | 95% |
| Liawenee | 12.5 | +0.7 | 25.5 | 30 Nov | 1.0 | +0.1 | -7.0 | 1 Sep | 176.2 | 258.8 | v low | 68% |
| West Coast (district 97) | ||||||||||||
| Cape Sorell | 15.8 | +1.5 | 26.1 | 29 Nov | 9.2 | +0.5 | 4.1 | 1 Sep | 237.2 | 320.6 | low | 74% |
| Hartz Mountain (Keoghs Pimple) | 11.5 | +0.5 | 27.1 | 29 Nov | 3.1 | +0.2 | -1.9 | 30 Sep | ||||
| Low Rocky Point | 15.5 | 26.1 | 29 Nov | 8.4 | 3.4 | 1 Sep | ||||||
| Scotts Peak Dam | 15.9 | +1.1 | 33.8 | 29 Nov | 5.7 | +0.3 | 0.7 | 1 Sep | 505.6 | 493.6 | average | 102% |
| Strahan Aerodrome | 16.6 | +0.6 | 32.7 | 29 Nov | 7.5 | +0.2 | 0.5 | 1 Sep | 374.0 | 376.1 | average | 99% |
| Strathgordon Village | 14.5 | +0.7 | 30.8 | 29 Nov | 5.9 | +0.3 | 0.5 | 1 Sep | 666.3 | 707.0 | average | 94% |
| Warra | 14.1 | 29.7 | 29 Nov | 4.4 | -1.4 | 3 Nov | 471.8 | |||||
| King Island (district 98) | ||||||||||||
| King Island Airport | 16.2 | +0.3 | 23.7 | 24 Nov | 9.1 | +0.1 | 4.2 | 9 Oct | 160.0 | 218.0 | low | 73% |
| Flinders Island (district 99) | ||||||||||||
| Flinders Island Airport | 17.6 | +0.8 | 30.2 | 30 Nov | 8.7 | -0.1 | 1.0 | 2 Sep | ||||
| Antarctica and Macquarie Island (district 300) | ||||||||||||
| Macquarie Island | 6.0 | +0.1 | 9.0 | 13 Nov | 2.1 | 0.0 | -3.5 | 3 Nov | 260.8 | 223.3 | high | 117% |
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 Monday 3 December 2012. 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
