Monday, 3 June 2013 - Seasonal Climate Summary for Tasmania - Product code IDCKGC17R0
Tasmania in autumn 2013: Hot start, cold finish, warm and dry overall
March was exceptionally warm, several sites observing their highest autumn temperature on record, but then in May Launceston and Devonport observed their coldest autumn day on record. Local heavy rain events in the north and in the southeast saw some sites break autumn daily rainfall records, but most areas had below average autumn rainfall overall.
- Both record warm and record cold temperatures
- Launceston's warmest autumn days on record
- Isolated, record heavy rain in the north and southeast
- Below average autumn rain for most areas
Monthly summaries have also been prepared for March, April and May. The heatwave that affected southeast Australia in early March was discussed in a Special Climate Statement.
Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top
A record warm start, but a cold finish
Autumn 2013 started off very warm: March 2013 was Tasmania's warmest on record, with a prolonged heatwave affecting Tasmania between the 2nd and 13th. Several sites, including Launceston, recorded their highest autumn temperature on record during this period, with some sites also observing their warmest autumn night on record. Bushy Park's 37.4 °C on the 12th was the highest temperature observed in autumn 2013, Burnie's 21.2 °C that morning the warmest night of the season.
The rest of autumn had a mix of both warm and cool weather. A notable run of warm days and nights from the 7 to 12 May was followed by especially cold temperatures in cloudy and wet conditions on 20 May, when both Launceston and Devonport observed their coldest autumn day on record. Liawenee recorded a low of -7.0 °C that morning, the coldest temperature of the season. Earlier that month, Mount Wellington recorded a maximum of just -0.6 °C on the 4th, the coldest day of autumn 2013.
Record falls in the north and southeast
Some localised heavy rain events pushed autumn rainfall totals above average in parts of the north and southeast of Tasmania, but autumn rain was below average elsewhere. This is in stark contrast to the generally wet autumn 2012.
There were two significant rainfall events in autumn. On 21 March thunderstorms produced heavy rain across northern Tasmania, some sites breaking autumn daily rainfall records. On the morning of 9 April isolated showers produced very heavy rain in the southeast, Eaglehawk Neck's 156.4 mm its wettest autumn day on record. Other wet events were overnight on 3 May when a cold front delivered daily rainfall totals of around 50 mm to the west, and between 14 and 16 May when a low in Bass Strait brought daily falls of up to 65 mm to the north.
The driest overall was Tunbridge with just 52 mm for the whole of autumn, whilst the wettest was Mount Read with 957 mm.
A warm autumn overall
Autumn temperatures were warmer than average overall, by up about 1.5 to 2 °C by day and about 0.5 to 1.0 °C by night. A few sites (including Launceston) had their highest mean daily maximum temperature, or their warmest for many years.
Damaging winds, fires and hail
The windiest day of autumn was 27 April when an approaching cold front directed very strong northwesterly winds across Tasmania. Maximum wind gusts reached 156 km/h at Maatsuyker Island Lighthouse, the strongest wind gust of autumn, 96 km/h in Hobart and 113 km/h at Cape Bruny.
The winds pushed temperatures into the low twenties in the southeast, the warm and very windy conditions causing late-season bush fires to flare near Tea Tree, Cygnet, Judbury, Ouse and Campania. The strong winds also caused some damage to property and downed trees and power lines, leaving thousands of premises without power across Tasmania. A few days later, thunderstorms blanketed the Launceston area with small hail on 1 May, contributing to a number of car crashes.
A warm and dry autumn in Hobart
Autumn was warmer and drier than usual in Hobart. 93 mm of rain was recorded, much less than Hobart's autumn average of 143 mm. It rained on 35 days, close to the autumn average of 37 days, but only 5 days of those days saw 5 mm or more recorded (the autumn average is 8 days).
Hobart's autumn mean maximum temperature was 1.7 °C above average at 19.0 °C, with markedly more warm days than usual. The temperature reached 20 °C or more on 34 days, much more than Hobart's autumn average of 23 days. The autumn mean minimum temperature of 10.0 °C was also warmer than usual, by 1.1 °C. The coldest morning was a chilly 1.6 °C on 20 May, Hobart's coldest autumn morning since 2010.
Further information
Ian Barnes-Keoghan or Lorien MartinClimatologists
Tasmania and Antarctica Climate Services Centre
Bureau of Meteorology
Phone (03) 6221 2043
Email climate.tas@bom.gov.au
| Extremes in autumn 2013 | |
|---|---|
| Hottest day | 37.4 °C at Bushy Park (Bushy Park Estates) on 12 Mar |
| Warmest days on average | 20.2 °C at Launceston (Ti Tree Bend) |
| Coolest days on average | 9.6 °C at Mount Wellington |
| Coldest day | -0.6 °C at Mount Wellington on 4 May |
| Coldest night | -7.0 °C at Liawenee on 20 May |
| Coolest nights on average |
2.3 °C at Liawenee |
| Warmest nights on average | 12.7 °C at Swan Island |
| Warmest night | 21.2 °C at Burnie (Round Hill) on 12 Mar |
| Warmest on average overall | 15.9 °C at Larapuna (Eddystone Point) |
| Coolest on average overall | 6.3 °C at Mount Wellington |
| Wettest overall | 957.4 mm at Mount Read |
| Driest overall | 52.4 mm at Tunbridge (Austin-Vale) |
| Wettest day | 156.4 mm at Eaglehawk Neck (Jetty Road) on 9 Apr |
| Highest wind gust | 156 km/h at Maatsuyker Island Lighthouse on 27 Apr |
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 |
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Click on a map to show it full size in a pop-up window
| Record highest autumn daily rainfall | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Highest daily rainfall in autumn 2013 (mm) |
Previous wettest for autumn |
Years of record |
||||
| Eaglehawk Neck (Jetty Road) | 156.4 | on 9 Apr | 110.2 | on 27 May 1947 | 92 | |
| Poatina (Billopp) | 90.2 | on 22 Mar | 80.6 | on 13 Mar 1989 | 65 | |
| Dunorlan (Sharmans Road) | 82.4 | on 22 Mar | 80.0 | on 30 May 1971 | 62 | |
| Record highest autumn temperature | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Highest temperature in autumn 2013 (°C) |
Previous warmest for autumn |
Years of record |
Average for autumn |
|||
| Marrawah | 29.8 | on 6 Mar | = 29.8 | on 12 Mar 1998 | 43 | 16.9 |
| Launceston (Ti Tree Bend) | 33.0 | on 7 Mar | 32.9 | on 17 Mar 2008 | 32 | 19.0 |
| Strathgordon Village | 33.1 | on 12 Mar | 31.5 | on 14 Mar 1985 | 32 | 14.3 |
| Wynyard Airport | 30.3 | on 7 Mar | 28.9 | on 10 Mar 2008 | 28 | 17.6 |
| Geeveston (Cemetery Road) | 36.8 | on 12 Mar | 36.4 | on 1 Mar 1989 | 27 | 17.3 |
| Dover | 37.0 | on 12 Mar | 36.5 | on 13 Mar 1998 | 24 | 16.9 |
| Strahan Aerodrome | 35.4 | on 12 Mar | 34.3 | on 17 Mar 2008 | 22 | 16.7 |
| Maydena Post Office | 35.7 | on 12 Mar | 35.2 | on 17 Mar 2008 | 21 | 16.1 |
| Record lowest autumn daily maximum temperature | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Lowest daily maximum temperature in autumn 2013 (°C) |
Previous coolest for autumn |
Years of record |
Average for autumn |
|||
| Launceston (Ti Tree Bend) | 9.0 | on 20 May | 9.6 | on 12 May 2011 | 32 | 19.0 |
| Devonport Airport | 8.8 | on 20 May | 9.4 | on 29 May 1997 | 22 | 17.7 |
| Record highest autumn mean daily maximum temperature | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Mean daily maximum temperature for autumn 2013 (°C) |
Previous warmest for autumn |
Years of record |
Average for autumn |
||
| Cape Sorell | 17.6 | 17.2 | in 1956* | 72 | 15.6 |
| Launceston (Ti Tree Bend) | 20.2 | 20.1 | in 2010 | 29 | 19.0 |
| Cape Grim BAPS (Comparison) | 17.6 | 17.5 | in 2007 | 20 | 16.5 |
| Strahan Aerodrome | 18.1 | 17.7 | in 2007 | 20 | 16.7 |
* note: there are gaps in the historical record at this site, so it is possible a higher value has gone unreported.
| Highest autumn mean daily maximum temperature for at least 20 years | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mean daily maximum temperature for autumn 2013 (°C) |
Most recent autumn at least this warm |
Years since warmer |
Average for autumn |
||
| Maatsuyker Island Lighthouse | 15.7 | 16.2 | in 1985 | 28 | 14.5 |
| Marrawah | 18.1 | 18.5 | in 1989 | 24 | 16.9 |
| Dover | 17.8 | 18.0 | in 1990 | 23 | 16.9 |
| Flinders Island Airport | 20.0 | =20.0 | in 1989* | 23 | 18.7 |
| Geeveston (Cemetery Road) | 18.3 | 18.7 | in 1990* | 22 | 17.3 |
| Mount Wellington | 9.7 | 11.1 | in 1993 | 20 | 8.4 |
* note: there are gaps in the historical record at this site, so it is possible a higher value has gone unreported.
| Record highest autumn daily minimum temperature | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Highest daily minimum temperature in autumn 2013 (°C) |
Previous warmest for autumn |
Years of record |
Average for autumn |
|||
| Hobart Airport | 20.4 | on 13 Mar | 19.8 | on 18 Mar 1967 | 55 | 8.7 |
| Burnie (Round Hill) | 21.2 | on 12 Mar | 20.7 | on 11 Mar 1974 | 49 | 10.1 |
| Marrawah | 20.0 | on 12 Mar | 19.2 | on 3 Mar 1974 | 43 | 10.3 |
| Launceston (Ti Tree Bend) | 19.1 | on 10 Mar | 19.0 | on 21 Mar 2012 | 32 | 7.5 |
| Scamander | 20.0 | on 13 Mar | = 20.0 | on 12 Mar 1974 | 31 | 9.7 |
| Wynyard Airport | 21.0 | on 12 Mar | 18.9 | on 10 Mar 2001 | 28 | 7.3 |
| Cape Grim BAPS (Comparison) | 19.8 | on 12 Mar | 19.0 | on 10 Mar 2001 | 22 | 11.5 |
| Highest autumn mean temperature for at least 20 years | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Mean daily temperature for autumn 2013 (°C) |
Most recent autumn at least this warm |
Years since warmer |
Average for autumn |
||
| Maatsuyker Island Lighthouse | 13.2 | 13.4 | in 1985 | 28 | 12.0 |
Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top
| Summary statistics for autumn 2013 | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maximum temperatures for autumn (°C) |
Minimum temperatures for autumn (°C) |
Rainfall for autumn (millimetres) |
||||||||||
| Mean for autumn 2013 |
Diff from average |
Highest for autumn 2013 |
Mean for autumn 2013 |
Diff from average |
Lowest for autumn 2013 |
Total for autumn 2013 |
Average for autumn |
Rank of autumn 2013 |
Fraction of autumn average |
|||
| Northern (district 91) | ||||||||||||
| Bridport (Sea View Villas) | 18.7 | +0.4 | 27.1 | 12 Mar | 9.7 | +0.1 | 2.7 | 2 May | 177.3 | 169.5 | average | 105% |
| Burnie (Round Hill) | 18.8 | +1.1 | 26.5 | 7 Mar | 11.0 | +0.9 | 4.2 | 19 May | 232.8 | 218.7 | average | 106% |
| Cape Grim | 17.3 | 25.5 | 10 Mar | 12.0 | 5.1 | 19 Apr | 177.2 | |||||
| Cape Grim BAPS (Comparison) | 17.6 | +1.1 | 25.7 | 10 Mar | 12.0 | +0.5 | 5.3 | 19 Apr | 156.4 | 189.7 | average | 82% |
| Cressy Research Station | 19.4 | +0.8 | 34.3 | 7 Mar | 5.7 | 0.0 | -4.0 | 20 May | 153.0 | 130.0 | average | 118% |
| Devonport Airport | 18.3 | +0.6 | 26.6 | 12 Mar | 9.0 | +0.3 | 0.8 | 19 May | 205.0 | 182.1 | average | 113% |
| Launceston (Ti Tree Bend) | 20.2 | +1.2 | 33.0 | 7 Mar | 7.4 | -0.1 | -1.5 | 19 May | 140.2 | 152.2 | average | 92% |
| Launceston Airport | 19.3 | 33.9 | 7 Mar | 6.6 | -1.7 | 6 May | 134.2 | |||||
| Low Head | 18.0 | +0.4 | 25.8 | 10 Mar | 11.3 | +0.1 | 4.4 | 2 May | 245.0 | 164.8 | high | 149% |
| Luncheon Hill (Forestry) | 17.1 | +1.4 | 31.7 | 10 Mar | 8.8 | +0.6 | 0.9 | 19 Apr | 334.0 | 341.9 | average | 98% |
| Marrawah | 18.1 | +1.2 | 29.8 | 6 Mar | 10.8 | +0.5 | 3.0 | 19 Apr | 249.2 | 256.3 | average | 97% |
| Scottsdale (West Minstone Road) | 18.4 | +0.4 | 32.0 | 7 Mar | 8.2 | +0.3 | 0.4 | 2 May | 233.0 | 232.0 | average | 100% |
| Sheffield School Farm | 17.5 | +0.9 | 31.0 | 7 Mar | 7.3 | +0.1 | -0.3 | 5 May | ||||
| Smithton Aerodrome | 18.7 | +0.9 | 32.5 | 7 Mar | 7.9 | +0.1 | -1.8 | 20 Apr | 189.0 | 186.6 | average | 101% |
| Wynyard Airport | 18.4 | +0.8 | 30.3 | 7 Mar | 7.9 | +0.6 | -0.5 | 20 Apr | 209.2 | 218.3 | average | 96% |
| East Coast (district 92) | ||||||||||||
| Bicheno (Council Depot) | 19.2 | +0.6 | 28.5 | 13 Mar | 10.7 | +0.4 | 3.5 | 2 May | 125.1 | 173.4 | average | 72% |
| Fingal (Legge Street) | 19.1 | +0.8 | 32.6 | 6 Mar | 5.0 | -0.4 | -4.6 | 30 Apr | 121.2 | 146.9 | average | 83% |
| Friendly Beaches | 19.6 | +0.9 | 28.9 | 12 Mar | 10.3 | +0.3 | 2.5 | 7 May | 127.2 | 170.3 | average | 75% |
| Lake Leake (Elizabeth River) | 15.3 | +1.0 | 28.9 | 12 Mar | 4.0 | -0.1 | -4.3 | 20 May | 135.1 | 204.5 | low | 66% |
| Larapuna (Eddystone Point) | 19.9 | +1.8 | 27.8 | 12 Mar | 11.8 | +0.3 | 4.4 | 19 May | 127.6 | 189.9 | low | 67% |
| Maria Island (Point Lesueur) | 18.1 | 27.7 | 27 Mar | 11.6 | 5.9 | 20 May | 63.6 | |||||
| Orford (Aubin Court) | 18.7 | +0.5 | 31.0 | 27 Mar | 0.7 | 7 May | 85.6 | 162.5 | low | 53% | ||
| St Helens Aerodrome | 19.2 | +0.8 | 32.7 | 6 Mar | 9.6 | +0.2 | 1.8 | 5 May | 121.6 | 168.3 | average | 72% |
| Swan Island | 18.9 | +0.8 | 27.1 | 27 Mar | 12.7 | +0.1 | 5.5 | 5 May | 148.6 | 155.1 | average | 96% |
| Swansea (Francis Street) | 19.6 | 32.8 | 27 Mar | 8.7 | -0.1 | 20 May | 78.5 | |||||
| Midlands (district 93) | ||||||||||||
| Ross (The Boulevards) | 19.1 | +1.3 | 33.6 | 7 Mar | 5.1 | -0.5 | -5.3 | 20 May | 92.0 | 100.6 | average | 91% |
| Southeast (district 94) | ||||||||||||
| Campania (Kincora) | 20.1 | +1.2 | 35.7 | 12 Mar | 7.8 | +0.2 | -1.4 | 28 May | 69.8 | 103.0 | low | 68% |
| Cape Bruny (Cape Bruny) | 17.3 | +0.9 | 35.5 | 12 Mar | 10.4 | +0.3 | 4.3 | 20 May | 183.6 | 172.9 | average | 106% |
| Cape Bruny Lighthouse | 16.8 | +1.3 | 33.8 | 12 Mar | 10.5 | +0.8 | 4.4 | 20 May | 191.9 | 232.0 | average | 83% |
| Dennes Point | 18.2 | 33.5 | 12 Mar | 10.5 | 3.9 | 28 May | 141.8 | |||||
| Dover | 17.8 | +0.9 | 37.0 | 12 Mar | 7.6 | +0.3 | -0.5 | 20 May | 163.0 | 202.5 | average | 80% |
| Dunalley (Stroud Point) | 18.3 | 31.3 | 27 Mar | 11.2 | 4.8 | 20 May | 139.0 | |||||
| Geeveston (Cemetery Road) | 18.3 | +1.0 | 36.8 | 12 Mar | 6.7 | +0.2 | -2.9 | 20 May | 139.0 | 192.6 | low | 72% |
| Grove (Research Station) | 19.0 | 37.3 | 12 Mar | 6.1 | -3.5 | 28 May | 118.4 | |||||
| Hobart (Ellerslie Road) | 19.0 | +1.7 | 36.6 | 12 Mar | 10.0 | +1.1 | 1.6 | 20 May | 92.8 | 142.5 | low | 65% |
| Hobart Airport | 19.3 | +1.3 | 36.1 | 12 Mar | 9.0 | +0.3 | 2.0 | 20 May | 84.2 | 114.5 | average | 74% |
| Maatsuyker Island Lighthouse | 15.7 | +1.2 | 30.2 | 12 Mar | 10.7 | +1.2 | 5.7 | 4 May | 256.0 | 308.5 | average | 83% |
| Melton Mowbray (North Stockman) | 18.6 | +1.2 | 34.6 | 12 Mar | 6.0 | -0.1 | -5.4 | 20 May | 68.0 | 90.7 | average | 75% |
| Mount Wellington | 9.7 | +1.3 | 26.1 | 12 Mar | 3.1 | +0.9 | -3.9 | 4 May | ||||
| Tasman Island | 16.0 | +1.0 | 26.2 | 5 Mar | 10.4 | +0.6 | 4.5 | 4 May | 186.2 | 211.9 | average | 88% |
| Tunnack Fire Station | 16.7 | +1.2 | 31.2 | 6 Mar | 5.1 | -0.3 | -6.0 | 20 May | 97.8 | 138.6 | average | 71% |
| Derwent Valley (district 95) | ||||||||||||
| Bushy Park (Bushy Park Estates) | 19.7 | +1.7 | 37.4 | 12 Mar | 5.7 | -0.5 | -4.7 | 28 May | 73.0 | 130.7 | v low | 56% |
| Maydena Post Office | 17.3 | +1.2 | 35.7 | 12 Mar | 5.3 | -0.3 | -0.5 | 24 May | 210.6 | 246.3 | low | 86% |
| Ouse Fire Station | 19.4 | +0.9 | 36.4 | 12 Mar | 5.6 | +0.1 | -4.6 | 28 May | 74.8 | 86.0 | average | 87% |
| Central Plateau (district 96) | ||||||||||||
| Butlers Gorge | 14.7 | +1.5 | 28.9 | 4 Mar | 3.6 | +0.2 | -4.5 | 28 May | 314.2 | 403.3 | low | 78% |
| Lake St Clair National Park | 14.3 | +1.0 | 28.7 | 8 Mar | 3.5 | +0.5 | -3.8 | 28 May | 407.8 | 401.6 | average | 102% |
| Liawenee | 13.1 | +0.7 | 27.7 | 5 Mar | 2.3 | +0.5 | -7.0 | 20 May | 247.0 | 216.1 | high | 114% |
| West Coast (district 97) | ||||||||||||
| Cape Sorell | 17.6 | +2.0 | 28.8 | 12 Mar | 11.2 | +0.9 | 5.4 | 19 Apr | 231.2 | 321.2 | low | 72% |
| Hartz Mountain (Keoghs Pimple) | 12.5 | +1.1 | 31.0 | 12 Mar | 5.5 | +0.8 | -0.7 | 4 May | 220.8 | 213.5 | average | 103% |
| Low Rocky Point | 17.2 | 31.2 | 12 Mar | 10.6 | 3.8 | 20 May | 324.2 | 319.3 | average | 102% | ||
| Mount Read | 9.8 | +0.8 | 24.4 | 12 Mar | 4.1 | +0.6 | -2.0 | 19 Apr | 957.4 | 949.6 | average | 101% |
| Scotts Peak Dam | 16.1 | +1.3 | 35.4 | 12 Mar | 7.2 | +0.3 | -0.7 | 20 May | 415.0 | 399.7 | average | 104% |
| Strahan Aerodrome | 18.1 | +1.4 | 35.4 | 12 Mar | 8.6 | +0.1 | -0.2 | 20 Apr | 358.6 | 358.6 | average | 100% |
| Warra | 15.0 | 32.3 | 12 Mar | 6.0 | -3.3 | 20 May | 342.6 | |||||
| King Island (district 98) | ||||||||||||
| King Island Airport | 19.2 | +1.5 | 36.8 | 12 Mar | 11.2 | +0.6 | 3.8 | 12 Apr | 235.4 | 194.7 | high | 121% |
| Flinders Island (district 99) | ||||||||||||
| Flinders Island Airport | 20.0 | +1.3 | 31.9 | 27 Mar | 10.7 | 0.0 | -0.4 | 5 May | ||||
| Antarctica and Macquarie Island (district 300) | ||||||||||||
| Macquarie Island | 7.1 | +0.2 | 10.3 | 27 Mar | 3.8 | +0.2 | -4.2 | 28 May | 372.2 | 277.7 | v high | 134% |
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 June 2013. 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
Ian Barnes-Keoghan or Lorien MartinClimatologists
Tasmania and Antarctica Climate Services Centre
Bureau of Meteorology
Phone (03) 6221 2043
Email climate.tas@bom.gov.au
