1384.6 - Statistics - Tasmania, 2008  
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 22/04/2004  Ceased
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Contents >> Climate >> Temperature

There are 3 main influences on the temperature climate of Tasmania:

  • proximity to the sea ensures coastal locations will have a milder temperature regime than inland ones
  • temperature decreases as altitude increases (by about 0.7°C for every 100 m in the free atmosphere), making elevated locations generally cooler than low level ones
  • cloudiness in the west (a result of the persistent westerly winds) suppresses daytime temperatures there.

The normal daily temperature range close to the coast is around 7°C but can be double that inland. The high mountains and the Central Plateau are remote from the sea’s moderating influence, and there the night temperatures in particular can be low, especially in winter. Tasmania only occasionally experiences the hot days common in the mainland states.

High temperatures in the east and the south-east generally occur when warm air is carried across the state from the mainland. Bass Strait cools the lower layers of this air, moderating temperatures along the northern coast.

To display maps showing the average annual or monthly rainfall and minimum and maximum temperatures in Tasmania click on the following link and then enter your selection in the search fields:

http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/map/anual_rainfall/

TEMPERATURES AT SELECTED STATIONS, Tasmania - 2002 (°C)
Station
Summer(b)
Autumn(c)
Winter(d)
Spring(e)

Burnie Max
20.2
19.1
14.0
16.4
Min
12.3
10.9
7.4
9.0
Bushy Park Max
21.7
19.9
13.8
18.0
Min
8.9
5.3
2.3
5.5
Flinders Island Airport Max
20.3
19.4
14.3
17.0
Min
12.6
10.2
7.6
9.3
Hobart (Ellerslie Rd) Max
19.8
18.6
13.7
17.2
Min
11.6
9.7
6.4
8.5
Launceston Airport Max
20.9
19.1
12.4
16.8
Min
8.8
5.8
2.8
5.8
Liawenee (Great Lake) Max
15.9
14.0
6.4
12.2
Min
3.8
2.3
-1.0
0.9
Macquarie Island Max
9.7
6.8
5.3
6.4
Min
5.9
3.5
1.9
2.8
Swansea Max
20.4
18.3
15.1
18.3
Min
11.3
8.3
5.3
8.3
StrahanMax
10.1
8.7
6.6
7.4
Min
11.3
9.0
5.3
8.3

(a) At least 25 years of observations are required for the calculation of this figure. The period covers 1961 to 1990.
(b) December to February.
(c) March to May.
(d) June to August.
(e) September to November.

Source: Bureau of Meteorology.

TEMPERATURES AT SELECTED STATIONS, Tasmania: Long Term Average (°C)
Station
Summer(b)
Autumn(c)
Winter(d)
Spring(e)

Burnie Max
na
na
13.2
na
Min
na
na
5.9
na
Bushy Park Max
22.7
17.7
11.3
17.0
Min
9.8
6.6
2.1
5.9
Flinders Island Airport Max
21.5
18.7
13.6
16.8
Min
12.7
10.8
6.4
8.7
Hobart (Ellerslie Rd) Max
21.2
17.6
12.4
17.0
Min
12.0
9.4
5.0
8.2
Launceston Airport Max
22.5
17.6
11.4
16.4
Min
9.8
7.0
2.7
5.7
Liawenee (Great Lake) Max
na
na
na
na
Min
na
na
na
na
Macquarie Island Max
8.6
7.0
5.1
5.9
Min
5.1
3.6
1.7
2.0
Swansea Max
21.5
18.5
13.6
17.5
Min
11.1
8.2
3.9
7.3
StrahanMax
na
na
na
na
Min
na
na
na
na


(a) At least 25 years of observations are required for the calculation of this figure. The period covers 1961 to 1990.
(b) December to February.
(c) March to May.
(d) June to August.
(e) September to November.

Source: Bureau of Meteorology.



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