Tasmania swelters through early autumn heatwave after hottest Feb day ever

Autumn may have arrived, but a taste of summer heat is lingering with warm conditions expected after a record-breaking month.

Olivia, Rosie and Mia Robertson at Kingston Beach. Picture: Caroline Tan

Tasmania is sweltering through an early Autumn heatwave with parts of the state experiencing severe conditions on Sunday, after the hottest February maximum temperature on record.

The mercury hit 27 in Hobart and Sandy Bay family the Robertson’s were cooling off at Kingston Beach.

“We love Kingston Beach,” Rosie Robertson said.

The family used to have property at Sandfly and visited frequently.

“So we still just toddle down the road and come here.”

Mrs Robertson and her daughters Mia and Olivia were planning a day at home out of the heat while Mia recovers from 2 broken ribs.

On Monday most of the state is set to experience low-intensity heatwave conditions and Hobart is forecast to reach 29 degrees.

The temperature is forecast to hit above 30 degrees in some parts of the state on Monday, including Launceston with a top of 33.

While Burnie could reach a top of 27 degrees with the chance of a thunderstorm in the early morning.

On Thursday the Bureau of Meteorology released its latest drought statement which found rainfall totals in February were below to very much below average for most of Tasmania, and close to average for the east.

Average maximum temperatures in February were above average across the whole state and Tasmania had its highest mean maximum temperature for February in more than 10 years.

The report showed some sites in Tasmania had their warmest February night on record.

Originally published as Tasmania swelters through early autumn heatwave after hottest Feb day ever