Tasmania has a cool temperate climate with four distinct seasons. Summer lasts from December to February when the average maximum sea temperature is 21 °C (70 °F) and inland areas around Launceston reach 24 °C (75 °F). Other inland areas are much cooler with Liawenee, located on the Central Plateau, one of the coldest places in Australia with temperatures in February ranging between 4 °C (39 °F) to 17 °C (63 °F). Autumn lasts between March and May and experiences changeable weather, where summer weather patterns gradually take on the shape of winter patterns.[1] The winter months are between June and July and are generally the wettest and coolest months in the state, with most high lying areas receiving considerable snowfall. Winter maximums are 12 °C (54 °F) on average along coastal areas and 3 °C (37 °F) on the central plateau, thanks to a series of cold fronts from the Southern Ocean.[2] Spring is a season of transition, where winter weather patterns begin to take the shape of summer patterns, although snowfall is still common up until October. Spring is generally the windiest time of the year with afternoon sea breezes starting to take effect on the coast.
Rainfall in Tasmania follows a complicated pattern rather analogous to that found on large continents at the same latitude in the northern hemisphere. On the western side rainfall increases from around 1,458 millimetres (57.4 in) at Strahan on the coast up to 2,690 millimetres (106 in) at Cradle Valley in the highlands.[3] There is a strong winter maximum in rainfall: January and February typically averages between 30-40% the rainfall of July and August, though even in the driest months rain usually falls on every second day and the number of rainy days per year is much greater than on any part of the Australian mainland. Further east in the Lake Country, annual rainfall declines to around 900 millimetres (35 in), whilst in the Midlands, annual rainfall is as low as 450 millimetres (18 in) at Ross and generally below 600 millimetres (24 in). The eastern part of Tasmania has more evenly distributed rainfall than in the west, and most months receive very similar averages.
The densely populated northern coast is much drier than the western side, with annual rainfall ranging from 666 millimetres (26.2 in) in Launceston to 955 millimetres (37.6 in) in Burnie in the north west and 993 millimetres (39.1 in) in Scottsdale located further to the east.[4][5] Most rain falls in winter, and in summer the average can be as low as 31 millimetres (1.2 in) per month in Launceston. The east coast is wetter than the Midlands, with an average annual rainfall ranging from 775 millimetres (30.5 in) in St. Helens to around 640 millimetres (25 in) in Swansea.[6][7] Here the rainfall is evenly distributed over the year but can be very erratic as heavy rainfalls from the warm Tasman Sea are quite frequent. Whereas a three-day fall of 125 millimetres (4.9 in) occurs only once every fifty years on the north coast, it occurs on average once every four or five years around Swansea and Bicheno, and on 7–8 June 1954, there were many falls as large as 230 millimetres (9.1 in) in two days in that area. The east coast is sometimes called the "sun coast" because of its sunny climate.[8]
Several sections of inland Tasmania, together with Flinders Island, were declared drought-affected areas by the state government in 2007.[9]
The highest recorded maximum temperature in Tasmania was 42.2 °C (108.0 °F) at Scamander on 30 January 2009, during the 2009 southeastern Australia heat wave. Tasmania's lowest recorded minimum temperature was −13 °C (8.6 °F) on 30 June 1983, at Butlers Gorge, Shannon, and Tarraleah.[10]
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Hobart has a mild temperate oceanic climate (Köppen climate classification), with four distinct seasons. The highest temperature recorded was 40.8°C on 4 January 1976 and the lowest was −2.8°C on 25 June 1972. Compared to other major Australia cities Hobart has the second least daily average hours of sunshine, with 5.9 hours. (Melbourne has the least) [11] The city rarely receives snow in winter; however, the adjacent Mount Wellington is often seen with a covering in winter, and it has received unseasonal snowfalls in all seasons, including summer. Hobart during the 20th century did receive many snowfalls at sea level because of cold masses arriving from Antarctica. These snow-bearing winds often carried on through Tasmania and Victoria to the Snowy Mountains in New South Wales and Northern Victoria. Though snow is unusual in general at sea level in Australia, Hobart has most probably had the most sea level snowfalls out of any State Capital, though Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide have also recorded snow. Mount Wellington has snowfalls through every season, even summer, because of its elevation.
| Climate data for Hobart | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Average high °C (°F) | 21.6 (70.9) |
21.6 (70.9) |
20.1 (68.2) |
17.3 (63.1) |
14.4 (57.9) |
11.9 (53.4) |
11.6 (52.9) |
13.0 (55.4) |
15.0 (59.0) |
16.9 (62.4) |
18.7 (65.7) |
20.3 (68.5) |
16.9 (62.4) |
| Average low °C (°F) | 11.8 (53.2) |
12.0 (53.6) |
10.8 (51.4) |
8.9 (48.0) |
6.9 (44.4) |
5.2 (41.4) |
4.5 (40.1) |
5.2 (41.4) |
6.4 (43.5) |
7.7 (45.9) |
9.2 (48.6) |
10.8 (51.4) |
8.3 (46.9) |
| Precipitation mm (inches) | 48.0 (1.89) |
39.9 (1.571) |
45.2 (1.78) |
51.4 (2.024) |
46.8 (1.843) |
54.0 (2.126) |
52.5 (2.067) |
52.9 (2.083) |
52.7 (2.075) |
62.1 (2.445) |
53.7 (2.114) |
57.0 (2.244) |
616.2 (24.26) |
| Source: Bureau of Meteorology[12] | |||||||||||||
Launceston has a mild, temperate climate,[13] with four distinct seasons. The city is located in the Tamar Valley and is surrounded by many large hills and mountains. With this type of topography, Launceston's weather patterns can change in a short period of time.[14]
The warmest months are in January and February with an average air temperature range of 12.2 °C (54 °F) up to 26.4 °C (80 °F). Throughout the year there is an average of 8.3 days a year over 30 °C (86 °F). The maximum recorded temperature was 41 °C (106 °F) on 30 January 2009, with Launceston Airport reaching 42.4 °C (108 °F) on that same day, during the 2009 Southeastern Australia heat wave. Winters are cool with minimum temperatures dropping below 1 °C (34 °F) an average of 61 days a year. The coldest month is July, with an average temperature range of 0.2 °C (32 °F) - 14.5 °C (58 °F). The lowest recorded minimum at Launceston's current weather station, Ti Tree Bend was −7.2 °C (19.0 °F), and unlike many other areas of Tasmania, Launceston rarely receives snowfall.
Winter, for Launceston, is also the season with the least amount of wind. Because of this and the topographical affect of the Tamar Valley, Launceston winters are renowned for foggy mornings, with Launceston Airport the most fog-bound commercial airport in Australia. The average annual rainfall, with moderate to low variability is 665 mm (26 in), falling an average of 88.4 days a year. The most rain Launceston received in a year was 829.6 millimetres (32.66 in) in 1992, with 2006 being the driest year when just 394.8 millimetres (15.54 in) fell.[15][16][17]
The Bureau of Meteorology reported that 2007, was the warmest year ever recorded in Launceston since temperatures were first recorded in 1884. Temperatures ranged from a minimum of 8.1 °C (46.6 °F) – to a maximum of 21.2 °C (70.2 °F). During 2006 and 2007, Launceston had the warmest maximums throughout the state. In 2008, Launceston had the highest average maximum temperature out of all Tasmanian cities with 20.6 °C (69.1 °F).[15] [18] [18][19][20]
| Climate data for Launceston | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 41.0 (105.8) |
39.4 (102.9) |
35.9 (96.6) |
30.7 (87.3) |
24.0 (75.2) |
20.4 (68.7) |
19.6 (67.3) |
20.3 (68.5) |
24.8 (76.6) |
28.7 (83.7) |
30.7 (87.3) |
33.8 (92.8) |
41.0 (105.8) |
| Average high °C (°F) | 26.2 (79.2) |
26.4 (79.5) |
24.4 (75.9) |
20.8 (69.4) |
17.8 (64.0) |
14.5 (58.1) |
14.1 (57.4) |
14.7 (58.5) |
16.5 (61.7) |
19.0 (66.2) |
21.4 (70.5) |
23.4 (74.1) |
18.4 (65.1) |
| Average low °C (°F) | 13.2 (55.8) |
12.0 (53.6) |
9.0 (48.2) |
6.4 (43.5) |
3.1 (37.6) |
0.8 (33.4) |
0.2 (32.4) |
3.5 (38.3) |
5.1 (41.2) |
6.9 (44.4) |
8.8 (47.8) |
11.6 (52.9) |
7.2 (45.0) |
| Record low °C (°F) | 2.5 (36.5) |
3.4 (38.1) |
0.5 (32.9) |
−1.5 (29.3) |
−3 (26.6) |
−5.9 (21.4) |
−7.2 (19.0) |
−4.5 (23.9) |
−2.4 (27.7) |
−1.4 (29.5) |
−2 (28.4) |
2.0 (35.6) |
−5.2 (22.6) |
| Precipitation mm (inches) | 47.6 (1.874) |
30.7 (1.209) |
32.8 (1.291) |
50.7 (1.996) |
64.0 (2.52) |
64.9 (2.555) |
76.0 (2.992) |
83.1 (3.272) |
66.3 (2.61) |
51.8 (2.039) |
48.9 (1.925) |
46.1 (1.815) |
665.0 (26.181) |
| Source: Bureau of Meteorology [21] | |||||||||||||
Devonport has cool winters and mild summers. Summer daytime temperatures seem to stay between 20 and 23 degrees due to sea breezes.
| Climate data for Devonport Airport | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Average high °C (°F) | 21.1 (70.0) |
21.5 (70.7) |
20.2 (68.4) |
18.6 (65.5) |
16.2 (61.2) |
14.3 (57.7) |
13.9 (57.0) |
14.0 (57.2) |
14.8 (58.6) |
15.7 (60.3) |
17.5 (63.5) |
19.5 (67.1) |
16.8 (62.2) |
| Average low °C (°F) | 12.2 (54.0) |
12.4 (54.3) |
10.6 (51.1) |
8.5 (47.3) |
6.7 (44.1) |
4.9 (40.8) |
4.6 (40.3) |
5.0 (41.0) |
6.0 (42.8) |
7.2 (45.0) |
8.8 (47.8) |
10.5 (50.9) |
8.1 (46.6) |
| Precipitation mm (inches) | 43.1 (1.697) |
36.6 (1.441) |
45.8 (1.803) |
60.5 (2.382) |
75.6 (2.976) |
79.2 (3.118) |
97.1 (3.823) |
89.9 (3.539) |
74.8 (2.945) |
66.4 (2.614) |
55.8 (2.197) |
53.6 (2.11) |
778.3 (30.642) |
| Source: Bureau of Meteorology[22] | |||||||||||||
The average temperature in summer ranges from 12.5 to 21 °C with drier non sea breeze days as warm as 27 °C, with around 16 hours of sunshine per day. In winter, temperature ranges from 6 to 13 °C, and only 8 hours of sunshine. Relative humidity averages over 60% for the year in the afternoon.
Burnie averages 994 mm of rainfall per year. Most of the rain is in the second half of the year from July to December.
| Climate data for Burnie | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Average high °C (°F) | 21.0 (69.8) |
21.2 (70.2) |
20.0 (68.0) |
17.7 (63.9) |
15.3 (59.5) |
13.4 (56.1) |
12.7 (54.9) |
13.1 (55.6) |
14.3 (57.7) |
15.9 (60.6) |
17.7 (63.9) |
19.4 (66.9) |
16.8 (62.2) |
| Average low °C (°F) | 12.6 (54.7) |
13.2 (55.8) |
12.0 (53.6) |
9.9 (49.8) |
8.3 (46.9) |
6.7 (44.1) |
5.9 (42.6) |
6.1 (43.0) |
6.8 (44.2) |
8.0 (46.4) |
9.6 (49.3) |
11.1 (52.0) |
9.2 (48.6) |
| Precipitation mm (inches) | 43.2 (1.701) |
45.5 (1.791) |
49.5 (1.949) |
74.8 (2.945) |
94.9 (3.736) |
103.6 (4.079) |
125.2 (4.929) |
110.5 (4.35) |
87.4 (3.441) |
87.5 (3.445) |
68.0 (2.677) |
65.1 (2.563) |
956.2 (37.646) |
| Source: Bureau of Meteorology[23] | |||||||||||||
Strahan has a mild and wet climate. The highest recorded temperature in Strahan was 37.2°C on 14 February 1982 and the lowest being -3°C on 30 June 1983.
| Climate data for Strahan Aerodrome | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Average high °C (°F) | 20.7 (69.3) |
21.1 (70.0) |
19.4 (66.9) |
16.5 (61.7) |
14.3 (57.7) |
12.5 (54.5) |
12.2 (54.0) |
13.1 (55.6) |
14.3 (57.7) |
16.0 (60.8) |
17.6 (63.7) |
19.8 (67.6) |
16.5 (61.7) |
| Average low °C (°F) | 10.7 (51.3) |
10.8 (51.4) |
9.6 (49.3) |
8.3 (46.9) |
7.4 (45.3) |
5.2 (41.4) |
5.1 (41.2) |
5.8 (42.4) |
6.1 (43.0) |
7.3 (45.1) |
8.1 (46.6) |
9.6 (49.3) |
7.8 (46.0) |
| Precipitation mm (inches) | 89.5 (3.524) |
64.9 (2.555) |
101.0 (3.976) |
111.9 (4.406) |
136.5 (5.374) |
163.1 (6.421) |
168.4 (6.63) |
170.4 (6.709) |
152.5 (6.004) |
128.5 (5.059) |
91.0 (3.583) |
92.3 (3.634) |
1,457.4 (57.378) |
| Source: Bureau of Meteorology[24] | |||||||||||||