Climate of Tasmania facts for kids

Köppen climate types in Tasmania

Tasmania, an island state of Australia, has a cool temperate climate. This means it experiences four clear seasons: summer, autumn, winter, and spring. The weather can change quite a bit across the island, even though it's not very big!

The hottest temperature ever recorded in Tasmania was a scorching 42.2 °C (108.0 °F) (about 108°F) in Scamander on January 30, 2009. This happened during a big heatwave in southeastern Australia. The coldest temperature ever recorded was a chilly −14.2 °C (6.4 °F) (about 6°F) at Liawenee on August 7, 2020.

Rainfall in Tasmania varies a lot for such a small island. It's a bit like the weather patterns you might see on much larger continents. For example, some areas like Ouse in the middle of the island get around 506 millimetres (19.9 in) of rain each year. But in the northwestern highlands, near Cradle Valley, it can get as much as 2,690 millimetres (106 in)!

Sunshine also differs greatly. The southwest of the island might only get about 4 hours of sunshine a day. Meanwhile, the northeast, around Launceston, can enjoy up to 7 hours of sunshine daily. Tasmania's climate is similar to places like the United Kingdom, New Zealand, and parts of Canada and the United States.

Rainfall in Tasmania

Annual average rainfall for Tasmania (1991-2020)

In most parts of Tasmania, especially the western side, most rain falls during the winter. This rain often comes from frontal systems, which are weather fronts that bring changes in temperature and precipitation. Mountains also play a big role in how much rain an area gets. Western Tasmania's mountains receive a lot of rain.

The eastern part of the island is usually drier than the west. This is because of something called the "föhn wind effect." When wet air from the west crosses the Central Highlands, it drops most of its moisture. By the time it reaches the east, it's drier and warmer. This can sometimes increase the risk of bushfires in the east.

The wettest area is the west coast. Here, winter is very rainy. January and February might get only a third of the rain that July and August receive. Even in the driest months, it often rains every other day. The number of rainy days each year is much higher than on mainland Australia.

Further east, in the Lake Country, the yearly rainfall drops to about 900 millimetres (35 in). In the Midlands, even further east, it can be as low as 450 millimetres (18 in) in places like Ross. The eastern part of Tasmania gets rain more evenly throughout the year.

The northern coast, where many people live, is much drier than the west. Annual rainfall ranges from 666 millimetres (26.2 in) in Launceston to 955 millimetres (37.6 in) in Burnie. The east coast is wetter than the Midlands. It gets about 775 millimetres (30.5 in) of rain in St. Helens and 640 millimetres (25 in) in Swansea. Rain here is spread out, but heavy downpours from the warm Tasman Sea are common. The east coast is sometimes called the "sun coast" because it gets a lot of sunshine.

In the southeast, including Hobart, spring usually gets a bit more rain than winter. Spring also has slightly more rainy days.

Tasmania's Seasons

Summer

Summer in Tasmania runs from December to February. During these months, the average maximum sea temperature is around 21 °C (70 °F). On land, temperatures usually range from 20 °C (68 °F) to 24 °C (75 °F) along the coast and in lower areas like Launceston.

The warmest parts of the state are the valleys west of Hobart. Here, summer temperatures often go above 25 °C (77 °F). During very hot periods, temperatures in this area can even climb above 40 °C (104 °F). The Tasmanian highlands are much cooler. Liawenee, on the Central Plateau, is one of Australia's coldest places. In February, temperatures there range between 4 °C (39 °F) and 17 °C (63 °F).

Winter

Snow at Mount Wellington.

Winter months are June, July, and August. These are generally the wettest and coolest months. Many elevated areas receive a lot of snowfall. Winter maximum temperatures are around 12 °C (54 °F) along the coast. On the Central Plateau, they can be as low as 3 °C (37 °F). This cold weather comes from frequent cold fronts moving up from the Southern Ocean.

However, minimum temperatures are often warmer than in mainland Australia. Most coastal areas of Tasmania rarely drop below freezing. Elevated inland areas can get very cold, sometimes below −10 °C (14 °F) on clear nights. During snowy weather, the maximum temperature might not even rise above 0 °C (32 °F).

Spring

Spring in Tasmania is from September to November. It's a season of frequent changes as winter weather patterns slowly give way to summer ones. Snowfall is still common in the mountains until October. Spring is also the windiest time of year, with afternoon sea breezes starting to pick up along the coast.

Autumn

Autumn is from March to May. It's a transition season, where summer weather gradually changes into winter patterns. The start of autumn (March to mid-April) tends to be warmer and sunnier than spring, especially in Northern Tasmania.

Climate in Major Locations

Hobart

Hobart has a mild temperate oceanic climate. This means it has four distinct seasons. The highest temperature ever recorded in Hobart was 41.8 °C on January 4, 2013. The lowest was −2.8 °C on June 25, 1972. Compared to other big Australian cities, Hobart gets the second least amount of daily sunshine, with an average of 5.9 hours.

Snow rarely falls in the city during winter. However, the nearby Mount Wellington often has snow in winter. It has even had unusual snowfalls in all seasons, including summer! While snow at sea level is rare in Australia, Hobart has likely seen more sea-level snowfalls than any other state capital.

Launceston

Launceston has a mild, temperate climate with four distinct seasons. It has an oceanic climate with some Mediterranean climate features. The city is in the Tamar Valley and is surrounded by many large hills and mountains. Because of this landscape, Launceston's weather can change quickly.

Queenstown

Queenstown has a very wet climate. It is one of the rainiest places in Tasmania. It gets an average of 2408.2 mm (94.8 inches) of rain each year. This rain is spread out throughout all the months.

Liawenee

Liawenee is located high up on the Central Plateau of Tasmania. Because of its high altitude, it's one of the few places in Australia with a subpolar oceanic climate. This means it has cool summers and cold, but not extremely cold, winters.