Wettest September in 20 years

TASMANIA had its wettest September for more than two decades after record rainfall in some regions. 

Spring got off to a soggy start last month with the Bureau of Meteorology reporting the area-averaged rainfall total for Tasmania was 44.6 per cent above the 1961-1990 average for September. 

It was the state’s 10th wettest September on record and the wettest since 2003. 

The bureau said rainfall was above average for most of Tasmania, and in the wettest 10 per cent of September records for parts of the North-West, West, Central and South. In contrast parts of the state’s East had average to below average rainfall. 

Some sites had their highest September daily rainfall on record. One, Upper Esk on the South Esk River, recorded 65.2mm on September 2. Sites that had their highest total September rainfall on record included Queenstown which had 469mm, Low Head with 101.2mm and Derwent Bridge which had 299.8mm. 

Many other sites had their highest total September rainfall for at least 20 years. 

The bureau said maximum temperatures were close to average for most of Tasmania during September, but cooler than average for parts of the South-West and warmer than average for parts of the NorthEast. 

The mean maximum temperature for Tasmania was -0.32C cooler than the 1961-1990 average, and the coolest since 2017. 

Minimum temperatures were also warmer than average across the state, and in the warmest 10 per cent of September records for patches of the East and North and the Bass Strait islands. 

The mean minimum temperature for Tasmania was 0.94C warmer than the 1961-1990 average, and the warmest since 2016. 

Maria Island, with 21 years of data, had its lowest September daily maximum temperature on record. 

The bureau said a few sites had their highest or equal highest September mean daily minimum temperature. 

Strahan Aerodrome had its highest September mean daily minimum temperature for at least 20 years. 

The long-range forecast is pointing to above average rainfall for large parts of the country from October to December The bureau said there was a 60 to 80 per cent chance of rainfall being above average over the next three months. 

There is an increased chance of unusually high rainfall for parts of the northern and southern mainland and eastern Tasmania.