Cold and wet conditions across Tasmania

Summer? What summer? Tasmania has recorded multiple weather records over the past few months – and most of them are anything but summery. DETAILS >>

IT was a wet and cold summer in Tasmania with the Bureau of Meteorology recording the highest summer rainfall for 10 years.

Dr Andrew Marshall from the Bureau of Meteorology in Tasmania said summer rainfall was 19 per cent above average for the state overall.

He said multiple sites around the state had their highest total summer rainfall on record and the coolest summer days on average in 10 years.

“The wettest day of the summer occurred on the 21st of December when Mathinna recorded 125mm during a heavy rainfall event in the North-East.

“The hottest day occurred at Dover on the 11th of January with 38C – by contrast the coldest day was a chilly 2C at Mt Reed on the 6th of December.

“A few sites had their top rainfalls on February 6 when a complex low pressure system, cold front and pre-frontal trough tracked over Tasmania.”

Maple Stranger, 3, plays in the rain early last month. Picture: Zak Simmonds

Averaged across the state, the mean minimum temperature was only 0.04C lower than average but still the coolest since summer 2008-09.

Bicheno had its warmest summer night on record and highest summer mean daily minimum temperature on record.

Also on the East Coast, Orford had its lowest summer mean daily minimum temperature since 1995.

Dr Marshall said looking ahead to autumn it was set to remain wet.

“The rainfall for autumn is likely to remain above average across parts of the North and East and near average elsewhere.

“Under the influence of La Nina, there also remains an increased risk of flooding in areas with wetter soil and higher rivers, particularly in the North of the state.”