11-year-old weather record smashed as Hobart temperature hits 38C

HOBARTIANS are sweltering through summer-like conditions as the mercury smashes a record.

HOBARTIANS are sweltering through summer-like conditions as the mercury smashes an 11-year-old record.

At 3.24pm today the mercury tipped 39.1C, smashing an 11-year-old all-time March record.

The previous highest March temperature, set on March 14, 2008, was 37.3C which was set in 1940.

According to Bureau of Meterology, Cape Bruny recorded the hottest temperature of the day hitting 39.7C, that’s 21.4C above average.

The previous highest Tassie March temperature of 38C has been smashed at a number of places across the state.

#Hobart is now 38.2°C. That one is a March record for all of #Tassie. #Hotbart

— Bureau of Meteorology, Tasmania (@BOM_Tas) March 2, 2019

Bureau of Meteorology acting senior meteorologist Luke Johnston said a large high pressure system sitting in the Tasman Sea directed a very hot northerly flow over Tasmania causing the temperatures to rise.

“We will get a milder change across Hobart and Tasmania overnight but the biggest difference today is it will be a cloudy, which will limit temperatures from rising.

“On Wednesday, we get a more significant cold front that will bring colder air over Tasmania and temperatures will drop to the low 20s.”

TEN WAYS TO BEAT THE HEAT

The bureau said Friday was a warm night in Hobart with a minimum temperature of. 21.2C at just about 12am, but then the temperature peaked near 26C during the night before dropping again at sunrise.

A total fire ban was in place for Southern and Central Tasmania today until 2am on Sunday.

[e-mail]

Pictured at Long Beach cooling off is Rita Van Loon, 4, of Sandy Bay, left, and Nina Eberle, 4, of Mount Stuart. Picture: MATT THOMPSON

MORE TASSIE NEWS

KAYAK SPARKS AIR AND SEA SEARCH

TASSIE WINNERS AT THE NATIONAL TOURISM AWARDS

HEARTBREAKING TEXT REVEALED AT GP’S FUNERAL

HOBART HOUSE PRICES DEFY NATIONAL TREND

MAYORS SEEK LABOR CITY FUNDING