A third of the way into June, most of Tasmania is more than halfway to its monthly average rainfall, and much of the rain has coincided with big winds, like today.
Most rain so far has been in the state’s north and west, widespread 50-to-150mm so far.
Image: Total rainfall for the month to date. Source: Bureau of Meteorology.
The west is typically wet at this time of year, but parts of the north have already gained a month’s worth of rain.
Image: Rainfall for the month to date as a percentage of monthly average. Source: Bureau of Meteorology.
Glengarry, a town with a population of about 600, to the northwest of Launceston, has had about 120mm so far, 15mm more than the monthly average. Sprent, 20km southwest of Devonport, has also accumulated about 120mm, 10mm more than their monthly average.
Also in the north, more-populated Launceston has had about three-quarters of its monthly rainfall.
Parts of the south are not doing too badly rain-wise. For example, the state’s capital is almost half-way to its monthly average of 53mm, with 24mm so far.
A passing low-pressure trough has just been delivering a burst of rain in the past 24 hours. This trough and its associated deep low to the state’s south have also been responsible strong winds. For most, it hasn’t been as windy as the first day of winter but it is the windiest since then. Wind gusts have peaked at 145km/h at Maatsuyker Island, 130km/h at Scotts Peak Dam, and 106km/h at kunanyi / Mt Wellington, Low Rocky Point and Mt Read.
For Scotts Peak Dam it has been the windiest day this season so far, in fact it’s been the windiest this year so far.
Hobart hasn’t escaped the blow, recording a 74km/h gust this morning. The capital and other parts of the southeast are now recovering from this latest wet and windy burst. The recovery will be good enough to warm the region above average for the rest of this long weekend.
Hobart is even a fair chance to become warmer than Melbourne and Perth on Sunday, reaching a pleasant 17 degrees in the calmer sunshine as a high moves in.