Tuesday, 5 October 2021 - Monthly Climate Summary for Tasmania - Product code IDCKGC17R0

Tasmania in September 2021: mixed rainfall and close to average temperatures

September 2021 was wetter than average for parts of the Central Plateau and Upper Derwent Valley down to the South East District, but it was drier than average for much of the state's north-east. There were some higher than average maximum and minimum temperatures in the north-east and along the north coast, but most of Tasmania had fairly typical temperatures for the start of spring.

Drier than average across the north-east, wetter in parts of the centre and south

  • September 2021 rainfall was close to average for Tasmania overall and the highest since September 2017.
  • Rainfall was below average across most of the north-east with some sites in the East Coast District having totals in the driest 10% of September records.
  • In contrast, rainfall was above average for parts of central and south-eastern Tasmania.
  • A couple of sites had their highest September daily rainfall on record on the 10th, associated with a vigorous cold front crossing Tasmania.

Typical September temperatures for most

  • The mean maximum temperature for Tasmania as a whole was 0.18 °C warmer than the long-term (1961-90) average, but still the coolest since 2017.
  • Tasmania's mean minimum temperature was 0.13 °C warmer than the long-term (1961-90) average.
  • Daytime and night-time temperatures were higher than average in the north-east and along the north coast, but close to average elsewhere.
  • Several sites had their highest September temperature on record and a couple of others had their warmest September night on record.

Damaging winds and low-level snow

  • There were damaging winds across parts of Tasmania at times during the second and fourth weeks of September as cold fronts crossed the state.
  • Snow settled to low levels in parts of Tasmania on the 24th, mostly in western and southern areas, and over the Central Plateau, including down to around 100 m elevation in the Hobart area.

Hobart (Ellerslie Road)

  • Total rainfall for Hobart (Ellerslie Road) was 71.6 mm, which is 136% of the long-term average of 52.8 mm, making it the wettest September since 2016.
  • The mean daily maximum temperature for Hobart (Ellerslie Road) was 15.8 °C, which is 0.6 °C above the long-term average of 15.2 °C.
  • The warmest day was 26.0 °C on the 2nd (an early season record), and the coolest day was on the 13th when the temperature reached 11.0 °C.
  • The mean daily minimum temperature for Hobart (Ellerslie Road) was 6.9 °C, which is 0.4 °C above the long-term average of 6.5 °C.
  • The coldest morning was 1.8 °C on the 26th, and the warmest morning was on the 3rd when the minimum temperature was 15.3 °C.

Further information

Media
(03) 9669 4057

Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top

Extremes in September 2021
Hottest day 27.5 °C at Swansea (Francis Street) on the 2nd
Warmest days on average 17.0 °C at Friendly Beaches
Coolest days on average 4.7 °C at kunanyi (Mount Wellington Pinnacle)
Coldest day -0.7 °C at kunanyi (Mount Wellington Pinnacle) on the 13th and 25th
Coldest night -6.3 °C at kunanyi (Mount Wellington Pinnacle) on the 25th
-6.3 °C at Liawenee on the 26th
Coolest nights on average -1.6 °C at kunanyi (Mount Wellington Pinnacle)
Warmest nights on average 9.1 °C at Hogan Island
Warmest night 15.5 °C at Flinders Island Airport on the 3rd
Warmest on average overall 12.1 °C at Bicheno (Council Depot)
12.1 °C at Friendly Beaches
Coolest on average overall 1.6 °C at kunanyi (Mount Wellington Pinnacle)
Wettest overall 363.2 mm at Mount Read
Wettest day 51.4 mm at Mount Victoria (Una Plain) on the 20th
Strongest wind gust 172 km/h at kunanyi (Mount Wellington Pinnacle) on the 23rd

Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top

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 September daily rainfall
New record
(mm)		 Old
record		 Years of
record
Derwent Bridge 46.0 on the 10th 43.0 on the 15th in 1996 28
Wayatinah (Saltas) 50.8 on the 10th 47.2 on the 18th in 2003 22


Record highest September temperature
New record
(°C)		 Old
record		 Years of
record		 Average for
September
Cape Grim BAPS (Comparison) 21.0 on the 2nd = 21.0 on the 29th in 2000 29 13.4
Sheffield School Farm 21.7 on the 22nd 20.0 on the 30th in 2001 25 13.2
Low Head 19.2 on the 2nd 18.8 on the 15th in 2002 24 14.0
St Helens Aerodrome 25.2 on the 22nd 24.0 on the 28th in 2014 21 16.1


Record highest September daily minimum temperature
New record
(°C)		 Old
record		 Years of
record		 Average for
September
Campania (Kincora) 14.4 on the 3rd 14.0 on the 16th in 2002 22 5.4
Liawenee 9.2 on the 3rd 9.1 on the 14th in 2015 21 -0.4


Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top

Summary statistics for September 2021
Maximum temperatures
(°C)		 Minimum temperatures
(°C)		 Rainfall
(millimetres)
Mean for
September
2021		 Diff
from
average		 Highest for
September
2021		 Mean for
September
2021		 Diff
from
average		 Lowest for
September
2021		 Total for
September
2021		 Average
for
September		 Rank of
September
2021		 Fraction of
September
average
Northern (district 91)
Cape Grim 13.3 +0.1 20.7 2nd 8.0 -0.7 4.3 14th 88.2 78.1 average 113%
Cape Grim BAPS (Comparison) 13.7 +0.3 21.0 2nd 8.2 -0.4 4.3 25th 80.8 77.5 average 104%
Cressy Research Station 15.0 +0.1 21.9 2nd 4.4 +0.5 -3.1 26th 24.6 57.0 low 43%
Devonport Airport 14.7 +0.4 19.0 2nd 6.0 -0.1 -0.2 25th 32.8 73.3 low 45%
Launceston (Ti Tree Bend) 16.0 +0.3 23.4 2nd 5.4 +0.2 -1.0 26th 39.8 64.2 low 62%
Launceston Airport 15.2 +0.1 23.0 2nd 4.1 +0.1 -2.9 26th 34.8 53.9 low 65%
Low Head 14.2 +0.2 19.2 2nd 8.3 -0.2 3.1 26th 30.0 58.2 v low 52%
Luncheon Hill (Forestry) 12.9 +0.5 21.7 2nd 5.0 -0.4 0.2 25th 151.8 166.1 average 91%
Marrawah       7.0 -0.5 3.0 25th 99.4 103.8 average 96%
Scottsdale (West Minstone Road) 14.2 -0.1 20.2 2nd 5.2 +0.4 -1.0 25th 73.0 93.9 average 78%
Sheffield School Farm 13.5 +0.3 21.7 22nd 4.4 -0.3 -0.5 25th 69.0 115.9 low 60%
Smithton Aerodrome 14.8 0.0 19.8 2nd 5.4 -0.8 -1.1 26th 86.2 97.5 average 88%
Wynyard Airport 14.6 +0.1 18.2 30th 5.0 0.0 -1.2 26th 88.6 94.9 average 93%
East Coast (district 92)
Bicheno (Council Depot) 16.5 +0.3 22.2 11th 7.7 +0.3 2.5 27th 16.2 43.5 low 37%
Fingal (Legge Street) 15.6 +0.2 24.9 22nd 3.5 +0.3 -4.4 27th 13.2 49.5 v low 27%
Friendly Beaches 17.0 +0.2 24.0 2nd 7.1 -0.4 2.6 26th 19.4 40.6 low 48%
Lake Leake (Elizabeth River) 11.5 0.0 21.3 2nd 2.2 +0.2 -4.9 26th 35.2 70.1 v low 50%
larapuna (Eddystone Point) 15.9 +1.1 20.2 3rd 8.1 +0.2 2.6 25th 53.2 62.9 average 85%
Maria Island (Point Lesueur) 15.2 +0.1 23.0 22nd 8.1 -0.3 3.0 25th 28.6 43.9 average 65%
Orford (Aubin Court) 16.0 +0.2 24.7 22nd 6.0 +0.4 0.2 26th 29.2 51.4 average 57%
St Helens Aerodrome 16.2 +0.1 25.2 22nd 6.7 +0.1 1.3 26th 17.2 52.8 v low 33%
Swan Island 14.8 +0.1 20.3 2nd 9.0 -0.2 4.2 26th 36.8 49.6 low 74%
Swansea (Francis Street) 16.5 -0.1 27.5 2nd 5.8 -0.2 0.3 27th 24.2 35.7 average 68%
Midlands (district 93)
Ross (The Boulevards) 14.7 +0.1 22.5 2nd     -5.8 26th 34.2 49.2 average 70%
Southeast (district 94)
Campania (Kincora) 15.9 -0.4 24.0 2nd 5.2 -0.2 -1.6 14th 49.6 43.9 average 113%
Cape Bruny (Cape Bruny) 14.2 -0.3 25.8 2nd 7.0 -0.5 2.5 25th 82.0 68.5 average 120%
Dennes Point 14.9   23.9 2nd 7.5   3.0 14th 51.4
Dover 14.2 -0.6 27.1 2nd 4.7 -0.3 0.0 14th 133.4 82.9 high 161%
Dunalley (Stroud Point) 15.2   24.5 2nd 7.4   2.9 25th 47.0 37.5 average 125%
Grove (Research Station) 14.4 -1.0 20.5 22nd 4.4 0.0 -2.2 26th 100.8 75.4 high 134%
Hobart (Ellerslie Road) 15.8 +0.6 26.0 2nd 6.9 +0.4 1.8 26th 71.6 52.8 high 136%
Hobart Airport 15.6 +0.2 24.6 2nd 6.0 -0.1 1.1 14th 36.0 40.2 average 90%
kunanyi (Mount Wellington Pinnacle) 4.7 0.0 15.6 2nd -1.6 -0.5 -6.3 25th 49.4 71.0 average 70%
Maatsuyker Island Lighthouse 11.7 -0.5 24.9 2nd 6.5 -0.4 2.1 25th 104.4 107.9 average 97%
Tasman Island 12.7 0.0 20.9 2nd 6.6 -0.4 0.8 25th 72.8 72.4 average 101%
Tunnack Fire Station 12.5 -0.1 20.1 22nd 2.6 -0.7 -4.3 14th 62.8 57.8 high 109%
Derwent Valley (district 95)
Bushy Park (Bushy Park Estates) 15.6 +0.1 26.6 2nd 4.0 +0.1 -1.4 26th 53.4 53.6 average 100%
Ouse Fire Station 15.0 -0.7 26.0 2nd 4.3 +0.4 -1.7 16th 95.8 65.2 high 147%
Central Plateau (district 96)
Butlers Gorge 9.9 -0.3 19.9 2nd 1.1 0.0 -3.9 16th 250.8 169.4 high 148%
Lake St Clair National Park 10.3 +0.1 18.8 2nd     -3.6 29th 301.0 212.2 high 142%
Liawenee 8.8 -0.2 15.6 2nd -0.7 -0.3 -6.3 26th 102.8 107.7 average 95%
West Coast (district 97)
Hartz Mountain (Keoghs Pimple) 7.5 -1.2 21.1 2nd 1.0 -0.9 -2.9 25th 124.2 97.6 high 127%
Low Rocky Point 13.5   26.5 2nd 7.4   3.6 14th 131.4 130.2 average 101%
Mount Read 5.7 +0.2 15.7 2nd -0.2 -0.6 -4.9 25th 363.2 364.9 average 100%
Scotts Peak Dam 11.8 -0.7 23.6 2nd 3.8 -0.6 -0.1 25th 215.0 210.8 average 102%
Strahan Aerodrome 14.5 +0.1 26.8 2nd 6.2 -0.1 0.7 16th 154.8 149.9 average 103%
Warra 10.5 -1.0 23.0 2nd 3.3 -0.2 -0.9 25th 301.8 195.0 high 155%
King Island (district 98)
King Island Airport 14.7 0.0 21.5 2nd 8.2 -0.2 3.2 27th 74.0 84.9 average 87%
Flinders Island (district 99)
Flinders Island Airport 16.0 +0.8 23.6 3rd 7.9 +0.3 -1.6 26th 62.0 62.3 average 100%
Hogan Island 14.9 +0.3 20.5 3rd 9.1 -0.1 5.2 21st 55.8 53.9 average 104%
Note: From 2017, information about Macquarie Island can be found in the climate summary for the Remote Islands and Antarctica

Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top

Notes

The Monthly climate summary, generally published on the first working day of each 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 7 am on Tuesday 5 October 2021. 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.

Further information

Media
(03) 9669 4057

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