Climate of Launceston, Tasmania

The warmest months are in January and February with an average air temperature range of 12.2 °C (54 °F) up to 34.4 °C (94 °F). Throughout the year there is an average of 4.3 days a year over 30 °C (86 °F). The maximum recorded temperature was 39 °C (102 °F) on 30 January 2009, with Launceston Airport reaching 40.4 °C (105 °F) on that same day, during the 2009 Southeastern Australia heat wave. Having 2,500 hours of annual sunshine, Launceston is sunnier than Melbourne, a northward city in mainland Australia, which only receives around 2,300 hours of annual sunshine.

Winters are cool with minimum temperatures dropping below 2 °C (36 °F) an average of 61 days a year. The coldest month is July, with an average temperature range of 2.2 °C (36 °F) - 12.5 °C (55 °F). The lowest recorded minimum at Launceston's current weather station, Ti Tree Bend was −5.2 °C (22.6 °F). Unlike many other areas of Tasmania and as well as a number of cities in the northern hemisphere that lie on the same latitude (such as Chicago, Cleveland, Tashkent, Tbilisi and Shenyang), Launceston rarely receives snowfall and is relatively mild.[3][4]

Winter, for Launceston, is also the season with the least amount of wind. Because of this and the topographical effect of the Tamar Valley, Launceston winters are renowned for foggy mornings, with Launceston Airport the most fog-bound commercial airport in Australia. The average annual rainfall, with moderate to low variability is 665 mm (26 in), with 1 millimetre (0.04 in) falling an average of 88.4 days a year. The most rain Ti Tree Bend has received in a year was 829.6 millimetres (32.66 in) in 1992, though Launceston Airport received 953.1 millimetres (37.52 in) during 1956. As in most of Tasmania, 2006 was the driest year when just 394.8 millimetres (15.54 in) fell.[5][6]

Cataract Gorge in flood

There is an average of 663.4 millimetres (26.12 in) of rain a year (676.6 millimetres (26.64 in) at the airport). Cold fronts in winter account for much of this precipitation, with mountains surrounding Launceston regularly receiving snow in autumn, winter and spring.[7] Launceston annual rainfall is somewhat lower than that of surrounding areas, particularly further north in the Tamar valley. This is due to the rain shadow effect of the Western Tiers located West of the city.

Launceston has a cool, temperate climate,[1] with four distinct seasons. Surrounded by many large hills and mountains, Launceston's weather patterns can change considerably in a short period. The warmest months are in January and February with an average air temperature range of 12.2 °C (54 °F) to 24.4 °C (76 °F). Throughout the year there is an average of 4.3 days a year over 30 °C (86 °F). The maximum recorded temperature was 39 °C (102 °F) on 30 January 2009, with Launceston Airport reaching 40.4 °C (105 °F) on that same day, during the 2009 Southeastern Australia heat wave. Winters are cool with minimum temperatures dropping below 2 °C (36 °F) an average of 61 days a year. The coldest month is July, with an average temperature range of 2.2 °C (36 °F) to 12.5 °C (55 °F). The lowest recorded minimum at Launceston's current weather station, Ti Tree Bend, was −5.2 °C (22.6 °F), and unlike many other areas of Tasmania, Launceston rarely receives snowfall.

The average annual rainfall, with moderate to low variability, is 665 mm (26 in), falling on an average of 88.4 days a year. The most rain Launceston received in a year was 1,017 millimetres (40.0 in) in 2016, with 2006 being the driest year when just 394.8 millimetres (15.54 in) fell.[5][6][8]

The Bureau of Meteorology reported that 2007 was the hottest year ever recorded in Launceston since temperatures were first recorded in 1884. Temperatures ranged from a minimum of 8.1 °C (46.6 °F) to a maximum of 19.2 °C (66.6 °F).[9] During 2006 and 2007, Launceston had the hottest maximums throughout the state. In 2008, Launceston had the highest average maximum temperature out of all Tasmanian cities with 18.6 °C (65.5 °F).[3][4][7][8]

Approximate affected area shown in red

The 2009 southeastern Australia heat wave was a heat wave that commenced in late January and led to record-breaking prolonged high temperatures in the region.[11] During the heat wave, 50 separate locations across Australia set various records for consecutive, highest daytime and overnight temperatures.

The exceptional heat wave was caused by a slow moving high-pressure system that settled over the Tasman Sea, with a combination of an intense tropical low located off the North West Australian coast and a monsoon trough over Northern Australia, which produced ideal conditions for hot tropical air to be directed down over Southeastern Australia.[12] The heat began in South Australia on 25 January but became more widespread over southeast Australia by 27 January. A weak cool change moved over the southern coastal areas bringing some relief on 30 January;[12] in Melbourne the change arrived on the evening and dropped temperatures to an average of 30.8 °C (87.4 °F). Higher temperatures returned on the following weekend with Melbourne recording its hottest day since records began in 1855: 46.4 °C (115.5 °F), also the hottest temperature ever recorded in an Australian capital city.[13]

During the heat wave, several records were broken; Tasmania recorded its highest ever temperature; 42.2 °C (108 °F) in Scamander, and the long-standing Tasmanian record of 40.8 °C (105.4 °F) (recorded in Hobart on 4 January 1976) was broken five times within two days at Flinders Island, Fingal (twice), St Helens and Scamander. Launceston recorded its highest recorded temperature of 38.2 °C (100.8 °F) on 31 January.[14] The heat wave generated extreme fire conditions during the peak of the 2008–09 Australian bushfire season, causing many bushfires in the affected region, contributing to the extreme bushfire conditions on 7 February, also known as the February 2009 Victorian bushfires, which claimed 173 lives in Victoria.[15]

Launceston in January 2009

• 28th – 33.8 °C (92.8 °F)[16]
• 29th – 36.9 °C (98.4 °F)
• 30th – 39.0 °C (102.2 °F) - Hottest day recorded in Launceston since records began in 1880.[17]
• 31st – 38.2 °C (100.8 °F)

• Environment of Australia