Tasmania in autumn 2022: drier than average in the west, wetter in the east; much warmer than average

Autumn days and nights were much warmer than average for most of Tasmania. Rainfall was below average for western and central parts, but above average along the east and north-east coast.

Record dry March to April for the west / south-west

  • Average to above average rainfall during May provided some relief following the driest March to April period on record for much of the south-west and parts of the west.
  • Autumn (March to May) rainfall was below average for western and central Tasmania increasing to above average along the east and north-east coast.
  • Parts of the south-west had rainfall totals in the lowest 10% of records (since 1910).
  • Autumn rainfall was 16% below average for Tasmania overall and the lowest since 2017.
  • Some sites had their highest autumn daily rainfall on record on either the first day of the season, when a trough over the east of the mainland fed moisture down over Tasmania, or, 6 May, when thunderstorms with heavy rain hit southern Tasmania.
  • kunanyi (Mount Wellington Pinnacle) had its highest total autumn rainfall on record, which included its wettest March on record.

Seventh warmest Autumn on record

Hobart (Ellerslie Road)

  • Total rainfall for Hobart (Ellerslie Road) was 186.2 mm, which is 131% of the long-term average of 142.1 mm.
  • The mean daily maximum temperature for Hobart (Ellerslie Road) was 18.5 °C, which is 1.1 °C above the long-term average of 17.4 °C.
  • The warmest day was 29.2 °C on 17 March, and the coolest day was on 31 May when the temperature reached 10.2 °C.
  • The mean daily minimum temperature for Hobart (Ellerslie Road) was 10.0 °C, which is 1.0 °C above the long-term average of 9.0 °C.
  • The coldest morning was 3.0 °C on 25 May, and the warmest morning was on 5 March when the minimum temperature was 18.3 °C.

Further information

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Extremes in autumn 2022
Hottest day 29.9 °C at Bushy Park (Bushy Park Estates) on 3 Mar
Warmest days on average 20.2 °C at Launceston (Ti Tree Bend)
Coolest days on average 9.0 °C at kunanyi (Mount Wellington Pinnacle)
Coldest day -0.1 °C at kunanyi (Mount Wellington Pinnacle) on 16 May
Coldest night -9.9 °C at Liawenee on 24 May
Coolest nights on average 2.5 °C at Liawenee
Warmest nights on average 13.6 °C at Swan Island
Warmest night 20.3 °C at Flinders Island Airport on 1 Mar
Warmest on average overall 16.1 °C at Swan Island
Coolest on average overall 6.1 °C at kunanyi (Mount Wellington Pinnacle)
Wettest overall 684.4 mm at Mount Read
Wettest day 148.6 mm at Tomahawk (Carisbrooke) on 1 Mar
Strongest wind gust 137 km/h at Maatsuyker Island Lighthouse on 17 May

Maps
ObservedAnomalyDecile rank
Total
rainfall
Map of Rainfall totals Map of Percentage of normal rainfall Map of Rainfall deciles
Mean
daily
maximum
temperatures
Map of Mean maximum temperature Map of Anomaly in mean maximum temperature Map of Decile rank of mean maximum temperature
Mean
daily
minimum
temperatures
Map of Mean minimum temperature Map of Anomaly in mean minimum temperature Map of Decile rank of mean minimum temperature

Click on a map to show it full size in a pop-up window


Record highest autumn daily rainfall
New record
(mm)
Old
record
Years of
record
Northdown (Hamley) 88.0 on 1 Mar 85.9 on 5 Apr 1929 114
Devonport Airport 66.2 on 6 Apr 66.0 on 19 Mar 1975 59
Mauriceton (Jordan River) 58.0 on 6 May 53.6 on 21 Mar 1970 59
Tomahawk (Carisbrooke) 148.6 on 1 Mar 85.6 on 19 May 2007 58
Tea Tree (The Point) 99.0 on 6 May 74.4 on 13 Apr 2011 37
Richmond (Strathayr) 88.2 on 6 May 74.2 on 11 May 2018 34
Bell Bay (Temco) 88.4 on 1 Mar 53.0 on 24 Mar 2011 33
Friendly Beaches 122.0 on 28 Apr 105.8 on 16 May 2003 26
George Town (South Street) 92.8 on 1 Mar 63.6 on 24 Mar 2011 26
Below Craigbourne Dam (Coal River) 107.8 on 6 May 100.8 on 11 May 2018 25
Low Head 84.4 on 1 Mar 66.2 on 24 Mar 2011 25
Ouse Fire Station 49.0 on 6 May 30.4 on 11 May 2018 24
Tea Tree Point 92.8 on 6 May 66.6 on 11 May 2018 24
Wayatinah (Saltas) 58.8 on 9 May 41.0 on 11 May 2016 24
Campania (Kincora) 96.0 on 6 May 70.8 on 13 Apr 2011 23
Mount Dromedary 72.2 on 6 May 59.0 on 11 May 2018 23



Record highest autumn total rainfall
New record
(mm)
Old
record
Years of
record
Average for
autumn
kunanyi (Mount Wellington Pinnacle) 485.8 467.0 in 2003 34 240.9

Highest autumn total rainfall for at least 20 years
Observed
(mm)
Most recent
higher
Average for
autumn
Coles Bay (Freycinet) 313.6 433.9 in 1974* 160.6

* note: there are gaps in the historical record at this site, so it is possible a higher value has gone unreported




Record lowest autumn daily maximum temperature
New record
(°C)
Old
record
Years of
record
Average for
autumn
Friendly Beaches 9.8 on 31 May = 9.8 on 27 May 2016 26 18.9



Record highest autumn mean daily maximum temperature
New record
(°C)
Old
record
Years of
record
Average for
autumn
Cape Sorell 17.9 17.6 in 2017 80 15.7
Launceston (Ti Tree Bend) 20.2 = 20.2 in 2013 38 19.1
Devonport Airport 18.9 18.8 in 2010 30 17.9
Cape Grim BAPS (Comparison) 17.8 = 17.8 in 2017 29 16.7
Strahan Aerodrome 18.2 = 18.2 in 2017 29 16.9
Luncheon Hill (Forestry) 17.3 17.2 in 2003 26 15.8
Smithton Aerodrome 19.2 18.9 in 2007 25 17.9



Record highest autumn mean daily minimum temperature
New record
(°C)
Old
record
Years of
record
Average for
autumn
Bicheno (Council Depot) 11.6 = 11.6 in 1971 46 10.3
Wynyard Airport 9.0 8.8 in 2010 36 7.5
Lake Leake (Elizabeth River) 5.2 = 5.2 in 2016 32 4.2
Devonport Airport 10.3 10.2 in 2007 30 8.9
Cressy Research Station 7.3 7.2 in 2016 22 5.9
St Helens Aerodrome 10.8 10.6 in 2016 21 9.5
Tasman Island 10.9 = 10.9 in 2016 20 10.0

Highest autumn mean daily minimum temperature for at least 20 years
Observed
(°C)
Most recent
higher
Average for
autumn
Scottsdale (West Minstone Road) 9.4 9.5 in 1989 7.9
larapuna (Eddystone Point) 12.8 13.1 in 1989* 11.2

* note: there are gaps in the historical record at this site, so it is possible a higher value has gone unreported




Record highest autumn mean temperature
New record
(°C)
Old
record
Years of
record
Average for
autumn
Cape Sorell 14.7 14.6 in 2017 80 13.0
Wynyard Airport 13.8 = 13.8 in 2010 36 12.6
Devonport Airport 14.6 14.5 in 2010 30 13.4
Cape Grim BAPS (Comparison) 15.1 = 15.1 in 2017 29 14.1
Smithton Aerodrome 14.1 14.0 in 2007 25 12.9



Summary statistics for autumn 2022
Maximum temperatures
(°C)
Minimum temperatures
(°C)
Rainfall
(millimetres)
Mean for
autumn
2022
Diff
from
average
Highest for
autumn
2022
Mean for
autumn
2022
Diff
from
average
Lowest for
autumn
2022
Total for
autumn
2022
Average
for
autumn
Rank of
autumn
2022
Fraction of
autumn
average
Northern (district 91)
Cape Grim 17.5 +0.9 23.7 1 Mar 12.3 +0.6 5.9 30 May 201.2 223.8 average 90%
Cape Grim BAPS (Comparison) 17.8 +1.1 23.7 3 Mar 12.4 +0.8 6.9 5 May 200.6 197.6 average 102%
Cressy Research Station 18.9 +0.4 26.9 5 Mar 7.3 +1.4 -1.7 20 May 83.4 133.1 low 63%
Devonport Airport 18.9 +1.0 25.3 2 Mar 10.3 +1.4 2.5 20 May 263.2 183.7 high 143%
Launceston (Ti Tree Bend) 20.2 +1.1 27.8 3 Mar 8.7 +1.1 -0.4 23 May 165.6 157.5 average 105%
Launceston Airport 18.8 +0.4 26.4 4 Mar 7.8 +1.0 -0.6 20 May 136.2 155.3 low 88%
Low Head 18.6 +0.9 25.3 5 Mar 11.9 +0.6 4.4 30 May 236.2 171.9 high 137%
Luncheon Hill (Forestry) 17.3 +1.5 26.4 13 Mar 9.3 +1.0 3.0 5 May 269.2 352.6 low 76%
Marrawah       11.2 +0.8 5.0 30 May 240.5 260.4 average 92%
Scottsdale (West Minstone Road) 18.5 +0.5 25.7 5 Mar 9.4 +1.5 1.1 30 May 258.8 230.2 average 112%
Sheffield School Farm 16.9 +0.3 25.0 5 Mar 8.0 +0.7 -0.3 23 May 318.2 241.4 high 132%
Smithton Aerodrome 19.2 +1.3 25.8 17 Mar 9.0 +1.1 0.8 30 May 177.8 204.6 low 87%
Wynyard Airport 18.5 +0.8 24.3 5 Mar 9.0 +1.5 1.1 30 May 189.0 217.3 average 87%
East Coast (district 92)
Bicheno (Council Depot) 18.4 -0.3 23.5 10 Apr 11.6 +1.3 4.8 20 May 285.2 171.7 high 166%
Friendly Beaches 18.6 -0.3 25.6 5 Mar 10.5 +0.5 3.5 25 May 369.0 169.1 v high 218%
Lake Leake (Elizabeth River) 14.4 0.0 22.6 13 Mar 5.2 +1.0 -2.9 22 Apr 175.8 202.5 average 87%
larapuna (Eddystone Point) 18.8 +0.9 24.4 4 Mar 12.8 +1.6 6.7 30 May 301.6 188.0 v high 160%
Maria Island (Point Lesueur) 17.5 -0.1 22.9 13 Mar 12.0 +0.6 7.0 31 May 209.0 119.0 high 176%
St Helens Aerodrome 18.4 -0.2 25.5 5 Mar 10.8 +1.3 2.4 20 May 228.4 168.8 high 135%
Swan Island 18.7 +0.5 25.1 13 Mar 13.6 +0.9 7.1 30 May 144.8 158.4 average 91%
Swansea (Francis Street) 18.0 -0.8 25.0 5 Mar 8.5 -0.2 1.1 20 May 128.4 122.8 average 105%
Southeast (district 94)
Campania (Kincora) 19.1 0.0 28.8 17 Mar 7.9 +0.1 0.4 25 May 186.4 105.3 v high 177%
Cape Bruny (Cape Bruny) 17.6 +1.0 27.9 17 Mar 10.8 +0.7 5.6 31 May 177.6 181.7 average 98%
Dennes Point 17.9   25.7 17 Mar 10.8   4.0 25 May 168.8 132.3 high 128%
Dover 17.6 +0.6 27.6 17 Mar 7.5 +0.2 1.5 21 May 231.0 203.1 high 114%
Dunalley (Stroud Point) 18.1 +0.1 27.0 10 Apr 11.1 +0.3 4.3 31 May 156.6 130.7 high 120%
Grove (Research Station) 18.5 +0.5 28.7 17 Mar 6.6 +0.5 -1.4 9 May 233.4 161.1 high 145%
Hobart (Ellerslie Road) 18.5 +1.1 29.2 17 Mar 10.0 +1.0 3.0 25 May 186.2 142.1 high 131%
Hobart Airport 18.7 +0.6 28.7 17 Mar 9.6 +0.8 2.9 25 May 176.4 113.8 v high 155%
kunanyi (Mount Wellington Pinnacle) 9.0 +0.5 17.1 13 Mar 3.3 +1.0 -2.6 17 May 485.8 240.9 highest 202%
Maatsuyker Island Lighthouse 15.6 +1.1 23.7 3 Mar 10.9 +1.3 6.1 17 May 199.8 307.3 v low 65%
Tasman Island 15.5 +0.3 23.0 5 Mar 10.9 +0.9 5.7 17 May 218.2 212.2 average 103%
Tunnack Fire Station 15.6 -0.1 24.0 13 Mar 5.7 +0.2 -2.0 21 May 188.6 136.5 high 138%
Derwent Valley (district 95)
Bushy Park (Bushy Park Estates) 18.9 +0.8 29.9 3 Mar 6.5 +0.3 -1.9 22 May 138.2 130.4 average 106%
Ouse Fire Station 18.5 0.0 28.7 3 Mar 5.9 +0.3 -2.2 25 May 133.8 102.1 high 131%
Central Plateau (district 96)
Butlers Gorge 14.3 +1.1 24.2 3 Mar 3.6 +0.1 -5.0 25 May 285.0 404.2 low 71%
Liawenee 12.7 +0.3 20.9 19 Mar 2.5 +0.5 -9.9 24 May 156.4 216.7 low 72%
West Coast (district 97)
Cape Sorell 17.9 +2.2 27.5 3 Mar 11.5 +1.1 6.3 21 May 249.4 320.0 low 78%
Hartz Mountain (Keoghs Pimple) 12.1 +0.7 22.5 3 Mar 5.4 +0.6 0.6 18 May 295.2 242.3 high 122%
Low Rocky Point 17.4 +1.0 28.8 2 Mar 10.7 +0.2 4.3 5 May 240.6 331.4 low 73%
Mount Read 10.0 +1.0 19.1 13 Mar 4.6 +1.1 -0.3 18 May 684.4 998.1 low 69%
Scotts Peak Dam 16.4 +1.4 29.1 3 Mar 7.5 +0.6 1.5 31 May 327.2 438.5 low 75%
Strahan Aerodrome 18.2 +1.3 28.1 3 Mar 8.8 +0.1 0.7 22 May 328.6 380.1 average 86%
King Island (district 98)
King Island Airport 18.9 +1.0 25.3 3 Mar 11.6 +0.8 1.4 6 May 178.2 195.7 average 91%
Flinders Island (district 99)
Flinders Island Airport 19.7 +0.9 27.7 28 Mar 11.5 +0.7 1.7 23 May 170.2 186.2 average 91%
Hogan Island 18.6 +0.5 26.6 17 Mar 13.5 +0.6 8.1 31 May 184.0 160.2 high 115%
Note: From 2017, information about Macquarie Island can be found in the climate summary for the Remote Islands and Antarctica

Notes

The Seasonal climate summary, usually published in the first week of the following month, lists 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. More extensive discussion of significant weather events, along with later information and data that has had greater opportunity for quality control, will be presented in the Monthly Weather Review.

This statement has been prepared based on information available at 2 pm on Thursday 2 June 2022. Some checks have been made on the data, but it is possible that results will change as new information becomes available.

In some situations, some or all of the rainfall is in the form of hail or snow. In these cases the totals given are for the water equivalent: the depth of liquid water that results from melting any frozen precipitation. There can be significant 'undercatch' of snow in strong winds, meaning the true precipitation can be higher than that reported.

Averages for individual sites 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.

Where temperature area averages are mentioned, they are derived from the ACORN-SAT dataset.

Information about Australian Indigenous seasonal calendars is available at the Indigenous Weather Knowledge website.

Further information

Media
(03) 9669 4057

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