1384.6 - Statistics - Tasmania, 2007  
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 22/04/2004   
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Contents >> Climate >> Rainfall

The interaction of airstream and topography is the main factor governing rainfall in Tasmania. Consequently, the annual rainfall varies markedly across the state, averaging less than 600 mm in the Midlands but over 3,500 mm in some part of the mountainous west. The highest rainfalls occur in remote, unpopulated regions.

While Tasmania experiences a generally reliable rainfall, there are periods when rainfall is significantly below or above the average. These are mainly due to changes to the broad meteorological and oceanographic situation, which affects the number of rain bearing systems over the state. Rainfall is less predictable over the eastern half of the state than in the west.

  • The highest accumulated rainfall recorded in a calendar year is 4,504 mm at Lake Margaret Dam, in the highlands of the West Coast, in 1948.
  • The greatest number of rain days recorded in a year is 314 at Waratah in the North-west in 1955, which is also a record for Australia.
  • The highest rainfall recorded in 24 hours between successive 9 am readings is 352 mm at Cullenswood (in the north-east highlands), on 22 March 1974.

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

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

For further information on climate click on the Bureau of Meteorology's website:

http://www.bom.gov.au

ANNUAL RAINFALL AT SELECTED STATIONS, Tasmania

2000
2001
2002
Long-term
average(a)

Station
mm
mm
mm
mm

Bicheno
603
na
455
na
Burnie
799
944
730
987
Bushy Park
481
568
457
601
Currie Airport
980
na
873
na
Devonport Airport
617
844
570
816
Flinders Island Airport
823
848
585
780
Glenorchy Reservoir
na
812
656
764
Hobart (Ellerslie Road)
455
681
466
586
Hobart Airport
428
518
417
513
Lake Margaret (Power Station)
2,821
2,585
3,344
2,898
Launceston (Ti Tree Bend)
728
642
558
na
Launceston Airport
658
654
565
660
Liawenee (Great Lake)
1,165
1,078
1,075
na
Macquarie Island
1,189
1,069
1,022
906
Scottsdale
936
995
778
na
Southport
1,085
na
1,003
na
Strahan Airport
na
1,455
na
na
Strathgordon
2,659
2,207
3,050
na
Swansea
544
669
365
572
Waddamana
741
na
670
805


na not available
(a) At least 25 years of observations are required for the calculation of this figure. The period covers 1961 to 1990.

Source: Bureau of Meteorology.



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