Tuesday, 9 January 2024 - Monthly Climate Summary for Tasmania - Product code IDCKGC17R0
Tasmania in December 2023
Rainfall
- Rainfall was below average for December across the west and south, but above average for parts of the North East and East Coast districts.
- The rainfall total for Tasmania as a whole was 25% below the December average (based on 1961-1990).
- The wettest day was the 14th when a low-pressure trough combined with high humidity and high temperatures brought showers and thunderstorms to much of Tasmania; the highest daily total was 63.2 mm at Sprent.
- Some sites had their highest December daily rainfall on record on the 14th.
Temperature
- Mean maximum temperatures were warmer than average for December across the south and east, and very much warmer than average across the north (in the warmest 10% of historical records for December).
- The mean maximum temperature for Tasmania overall was 1.94 °C warmer than average (based on 1961-1990), and the 5th warmest on record going back to 1910.
- Mean minimum temperatures were warmer than average for December across the south and centre, and very much warmer than average across the north and Bass Strait Islands (in the warmest 10% of historical records for December).
- The mean minimum temperature for Tasmania overall was 0.82 °C warmer than average (based on 1961-1990), and the warmest since 2018.
- Temperatures dropped below 0 °C at kunanyi (Mount Wellington Pinnacle) on the 30th, with light snow falling.
- Low Head had its highest December mean daily maximum temperature on record.
Hobart (Ellerslie Road)
- Total rainfall for Hobart (Ellerslie Road) was 29.2 mm, which is 52% of the long-term average of 56.2 mm.
- The mean daily maximum temperature for Hobart (Ellerslie Road) was 21.3 °C, which is 0.9 °C above the long-term average of 20.4 °C.
- The warmest day was 27.3 °C on the 13th, and the coolest day was on the 20th when the temperature reached 17.3 °C.
- The mean daily minimum temperature for Hobart (Ellerslie Road) was 11.8 °C, which is 0.9 °C above the long-term average of 10.9 °C.
- The coldest morning was 6.6 °C on the 10th, and the warmest morning was on the 14th when the minimum temperature was 15.9 °C.
Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top
| Extremes in December 2023 | |
|---|---|
| Hottest day | 31.5 °C at Bushy Park (Bushy Park Estates) on the 12th |
| Warmest days on average | 24.2 °C at Launceston (Ti Tree Bend) |
| Coolest days on average | 11.8 °C at kunanyi (Mount Wellington Pinnacle) |
| Coldest day | 4.6 °C at Mount Read on the 30th |
| Coldest night | -2.3 °C at Butlers Gorge on the 10th |
| Coolest nights on average | 3.7 °C at kunanyi (Mount Wellington Pinnacle) |
| Warmest nights on average | 14.5 °C at Swan Island |
| Warmest night | 18.3 °C at Flinders Island Airport on the 27th |
| Warmest on average overall | 18.0 °C at Launceston (Ti Tree Bend) |
| Coolest on average overall | 7.8 °C at kunanyi (Mount Wellington Pinnacle) |
| Wettest overall | 220.2 mm at Lake Margaret Dam |
| Wettest day | 63.2 mm at Sprent on the 14th |
| Strongest wind gust | 120 km/h at kunanyi (Mount Wellington Pinnacle) on the 14th |
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 December daily rainfall | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
New record (mm) |
Old record |
Years of record |
||||
| Golden Valley (Brodies Road) | 48.8 | on the 14th | 48.0 | on the 22nd in 2007 | 29 | |
| Deloraine Railway Bridge (Meander River) | 42.2 | on the 14th | 39.8 | on the 22nd in 2007 | 28 | |
| Kimberley (Mersey River) | 42.2 | on the 14th | 39.8 | on the 22nd in 2003 | 27 | |
| Fortescue Bay | 50.0 | on the 13th | 49.2 | on the 26th in 2006 | 20 | |
| Record highest December mean daily maximum temperature | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
New record (°C) |
Old record |
Years of record |
Average for December |
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| Low Head | 20.6 | 20.2 | in 2018 | 25 | 19.0 |
Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top
| Summary statistics for December 2023 | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maximum temperatures (°C) |
Minimum temperatures (°C) |
Rainfall (millimetres) |
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| Mean for December 2023 |
Diff from average |
Highest for December 2023 |
Mean for December 2023 |
Diff from average |
Lowest for December 2023 |
Total for December 2023 |
Average for December |
Rank of December 2023 |
Fraction of December average |
|||
| Northern (district 91) | ||||||||||||
| Cape Grim | 18.4 | +0.9 | 23.0 | 12th | 12.4 | +0.5 | 9.2 | 21st | 35.4 | 40.1 | average | 88% |
| Cressy (Brumbys Creek) | 23.1 | 29.6 | 11th | 9.5 | 5.0 | 7th | 65.2 | |||||
| Devonport Airport | 21.4 | +1.6 | 27.5 | 27th | 11.7 | +1.0 | 7.1 | 31st | 60.8 | 50.9 | average | 119% |
| Launceston (Ti Tree Bend) | 24.2 | +1.6 | 29.9 | 11th | 11.7 | +0.9 | 7.5 | 31st | 58.0 | 48.2 | average | 120% |
| Launceston Airport | 23.4 | +0.9 | 29.6 | 11th | 10.0 | +0.9 | 5.2 | 31st | 48.0 | 48.3 | average | 99% |
| Low Head | 20.6 | +1.6 | 25.6 | 27th | 13.6 | +0.7 | 10.6 | 31st | 67.2 | 42.5 | high | 158% |
| Luncheon Hill (Forestry) | 20.3 | +1.4 | 28.6 | 11th | 9.6 | +0.7 | 5.3 | 20th | 72.2 | 86.8 | average | 83% |
| Marrawah | 19.8 | +1.4 | 26.0 | 12th | 11.7 | +1.0 | 8.5 | 20th | 24.4 | 61.9 | v low | 39% |
| Scottsdale (West Minstone Road) | 21.7 | +0.8 | 25.8 | 11th | 10.5 | +1.2 | 6.3 | 7th | 70.6 | 64.7 | average | 109% |
| Sheffield School Farm | 20.5 | +0.7 | 26.8 | 27th | 9.7 | +0.7 | 5.2 | 20th | 46.6 | 61.9 | average | 75% |
| Smithton Aerodrome | 21.0 | +1.2 | 27.3 | 11th | 10.1 | +0.4 | 4.5 | 8th | 45.8 | 55.3 | average | 83% |
| Wynyard Airport | 21.0 | +1.2 | 27.5 | 27th | 11.0 | +1.3 | 5.5 | 8th | 85.0 | 64.0 | high | 133% |
| East Coast (district 92) | ||||||||||||
| Bicheno (Council Depot) | 20.3 | +0.2 | 25.0 | 14th | 12.8 | +1.1 | 9.5 | 20th | 87.4 | 68.2 | high | 128% |
| Fingal (Fleming St) | 21.7 | 28.1 | 5th | 8.5 | 3.7 | 17th | 102.2 | |||||
| Friendly Beaches | 22.2 | +0.3 | 26.9 | 8th | 12.5 | +0.8 | 7.5 | 20th | 103.0 | 53.6 | high | 192% |
| larapuna (Eddystone Point) | 21.6 | +2.2 | 26.1 | 5th | 13.7 | +1.7 | 9.7 | 17th | 45.6 | 59.9 | average | 76% |
| Maria Island (Point Lesueur) | 19.7 | -0.1 | 23.4 | 13th | 12.8 | +0.5 | 9.6 | 10th | 38.8 | 49.1 | average | 79% |
| St Helens Aerodrome | 21.6 | +0.3 | 28.2 | 5th | 12.4 | +0.6 | 8.4 | 20th | 89.8 | 59.2 | high | 152% |
| Swan Island | 20.6 | +1.1 | 24.1 | 8th | 14.5 | +1.1 | 11.6 | 20th | 25.4 | 44.4 | average | 57% |
| Swansea (Francis Street) | 21.1 | -0.2 | 25.3 | 14th | 10.6 | -0.5 | 3.7 | 10th | 58.8 | 58.0 | average | 101% |
| Midlands (district 93) | ||||||||||||
| Ross (The Boulevards) | 23.1 | +0.4 | 30.5 | 12th | 8.3 | -0.4 | 3.2 | 20th | 53.8 | 39.7 | high | 136% |
| Southeast (district 94) | ||||||||||||
| Campania (Kincora) | 22.7 | -0.1 | 31.3 | 13th | 9.3 | -0.8 | 3.2 | 10th | 56.2 | 42.5 | high | 132% |
| Cape Bruny (Cape Bruny) | 19.5 | +0.9 | 26.0 | 27th | 11.5 | +0.8 | 8.5 | 30th | 49.4 | 56.4 | average | 88% |
| Dennes Point | 20.6 | +0.3 | 25.6 | 13th | 11.3 | -0.5 | 6.8 | 10th | 34.2 | 42.9 | average | 80% |
| Dover | 20.8 | +1.4 | 26.8 | 27th | 9.1 | 0.0 | 4.3 | 10th | 31.4 | 69.9 | low | 45% |
| Dunalley (Stroud Point) | 21.4 | +0.8 | 25.1 | 13th | 12.1 | -0.1 | 8.9 | 10th | 23.6 | 38.4 | low | 61% |
| Grove (Research Station) | 22.1 | +0.9 | 31.0 | 13th | 7.3 | -1.2 | 0.4 | 10th | 32.8 | 60.8 | low | 54% |
| Hobart (Ellerslie Road) | 21.3 | +0.9 | 27.3 | 13th | 11.8 | +0.9 | 6.6 | 10th | 29.2 | 56.2 | low | 52% |
| Hobart Airport | 21.9 | 28.9 | 13th | 10.6 | 5.7 | 10th | 29.6 | |||||
| kunanyi (Mount Wellington Pinnacle) | 11.8 | +0.5 | 21.1 | 13th | 3.7 | +0.7 | -1.2 | 10th | 57.6 | 88.5 | average | 65% |
| Maatsuyker Island Lighthouse | 16.3 | +0.6 | 22.4 | 13th | 10.8 | +1.1 | 8.0 | 30th | 58.6 | 88.7 | low | 66% |
| Tasman Island | 17.1 | +0.5 | 19.9 | 13th | 11.2 | +1.0 | 7.3 | 30th | 68.8 | 63.6 | average | 108% |
| Tunnack Fire Station | 20.1 | +0.6 | 28.3 | 13th | 7.0 | -0.5 | -0.1 | 10th | 51.0 | 52.3 | average | 98% |
| Derwent Valley (district 95) | ||||||||||||
| Bushy Park (Bushy Park Estates) | 23.8 | +1.6 | 31.5 | 12th | 9.1 | 0.0 | 2.0 | 10th | 42.2 | 50.1 | average | 84% |
| Ouse Fire Station | 23.6 | +0.5 | 30.9 | 12th | 9.0 | +0.2 | 1.5 | 10th | 46.4 | 36.2 | high | 128% |
| Central Plateau (district 96) | ||||||||||||
| Butlers Gorge | 18.2 | +1.4 | 28.0 | 12th | 5.7 | +0.2 | -2.3 | 10th | 69.8 | 123.3 | low | 57% |
| Liawenee | 17.5 | +1.0 | 25.1 | 12th | 4.5 | +0.6 | -1.7 | 10th | 57.4 | 57.2 | average | 100% |
| West Coast (district 97) | ||||||||||||
| Cape Sorell | 19.3 | +2.2 | 24.5 | 13th | 12.3 | +1.4 | 8.4 | 10th | 45.0 | 79.2 | low | 57% |
| Hartz Mountain (Keoghs Pimple) | 15.9 | +0.8 | 25.7 | 12th | 5.9 | +0.6 | 2.2 | 30th | 56.8 | 80.6 | low | 70% |
| Low Rocky Point | 18.4 | +0.2 | 22.7 | 13th | 11.2 | +0.3 | 7.7 | 12th | 60.8 | 87.3 | low | 70% |
| Mount Read | 12.8 | +0.7 | 22.9 | 12th | 5.1 | +1.0 | 0.9 | 30th | 199.4 | 281.0 | low | 71% |
| Scotts Peak Dam | 20.5 | +1.4 | 30.0 | 27th | 8.6 | +0.6 | 4.8 | 10th | 95.2 | 139.6 | v low | 68% |
| Strahan Aerodrome | 20.1 | +0.3 | 26.5 | 13th | 10.5 | +0.7 | 4.2 | 10th | 71.8 | 93.3 | low | 77% |
| Warra | 18.2 | +0.6 | 26.7 | 13th | 7.2 | +0.2 | 2.4 | 10th | 73.2 | 128.6 | lowest | 57% |
| King Island (district 98) | ||||||||||||
| King Island Airport | 20.2 | +1.2 | 29.3 | 8th | 11.9 | +0.8 | 5.3 | 24th | 24.4 | 46.7 | low | 52% |
| Flinders Island (district 99) | ||||||||||||
| Flinders Island Airport | 22.0 | +1.7 | 28.1 | 8th | 13.2 | +1.3 | 5.4 | 23rd | 27.8 | 57.3 | low | 49% |
| Hogan Island | 19.8 | 0.0 | 27.2 | 8th | 14.0 | +0.8 | 12.0 | 30th | 34.2 | 40.5 | average | 84% |
| 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, 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.
This statement has been prepared based on information available at 6 pm on Monday 1 January 2024. 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.
Unless otherwise noted, all maps, graphs and diagrams in this page are licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International Licence
