Styx

April - Hobart, Tasmania The equal second warmest April for mean maximum temperature but nights were anomalously cool - cutting the mean anomaly to +0.7 above 1981-2010 or +0.6 above 1961-1990. Overall, it was the coolest April for 4 years. Average maximum: 19.6 ( +1.8 ) Average minimum: 9.0 ( -0.4 ) Rainfall: 32mm ( average 50mm ) Rain days ( +1mm ) : 5/from 10 Predominantly dry with high pressure centered over southern Australia. Occasional fronts brought several milimetres of rain but the weather was quick to clear under high pressure ridging. The wettest days were 13mm on the 6th in an early morning thunderstorm on a cold front, 7mm on the 8th, 9mm on the 18th and just over 1mm on the 26th. The 26th-28th was reasonably cold and windy as an intense low passed to the south. Brief showers in the colder stream on the 26th behind the first of a series of cold fronts, with snow settling near 800m. A dry start to the year here with 84mm ( 47% of long-term average ). Extremes in daily temperature for April ( records since 1882 ) : High max: 28.7.....17th ( record 31.0 in 2014 ) Low max: 12.7.....27th ( record 7.7 in 1967 ) High min: 15.8.....17th ( record 18.6 in 1959 ) Low min: 5.4.....19th ( record 0.7 in 1963 ) Historically high mean maximum temperature

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-04-20/snow-in-albany-western-australia-record/11032616 The Bureau of Meteorology confirms the historic nature of yesterday's cold snap in south-west Western Australia, in regards to snow. Also pleasing to note that Rocky Gully ( 215 miles south-east of Perth ) had an official maximum of 9.2c yesterday (13 below average ). That is the lowest daily maximum recorded in Western Australia for the month of April. A cold snap is not a real cold snap without a good temperature record! Rocky Gully is 250m asl. The previous low was 10.0c at Mount Barker and Manjimup in 1955 and 1970, both near 300m asl in the same geographical region. Icing on the cake will be for Perth to record its coldest April night tonight.

It's rare to see these cold temperatures in winter, let alone April. Will have to wait til the 9am reset tomorrow to see if the Western Australia record low daily maximum was set. we hope so. Undoubtedly a number of sites have recorded their coldest April day today in south-west Western Australia.

Historically significant cold outbreak forecast for south-west Western Australia tomorrow! BoM forecasting snow on the Stirling Ranges ( 1095m asl ). The only known instance of April snow in Western Australia was in 1970. In winter, it only happens once or twice and sometimes not all. There will be no shortage of snow chasers on Friday night hoping to capture what could be a very rare event. Also potential for lowest April maximum temperature recorded in Western Australia on Friday ( 10.0c is the number to beat ). Sunday will start with a sharp out-of-season frost. Perth's forecast minimum of 5 goes within 1c of the record April low, set in 1914.

I try to catch up when I can but I thought the opposite was the case? Low ice extent across the Arctic is more likely to produce frigid winters in Europe.

March - Hobart, Tasmania A rather warm and very dry month. A mean temperature anomaly of +1.0c compared to 1981-2010 or +1.1c compared to 1961-1990. The bulk of this anomaly was derived from a single day alone ( 2nd ). Average maximum: 21.5 ( +1.2 ) Average minimum: 12.1 ( +0.8 ) Rainfall: 18mm ( average 45mm ) Rain days (+1mm): 8/from 13 March began with record heat in south-east Tasmania as dry air from the Great Victoria Desert was drawn in on a direct north-westerly airflow. After this heat event, temperatures were moderate for the rest of the month and it was generally very settled, with a belt of high pressure extending across Tasmania latitude, broken by weak cold fronts at times, bringing only a shower or two. Near mid-month high pressure was centered to the south for a few days. Winds were light easterly off the sea, with low cloud and overnight drizzle at times. This calm setup was broken by an active front on the 25th which brought colder air, a few showers, and snow settling at 1100m asl in the afternoon. The wettest day was 3mm on the 9th. Extremes in daily temperature for March ( records since 1883 ) High max: 39.1.....2nd ( previous record 37.3 in 2008 and 1940 ) Low max: 14.5.....25th ( record 8.9 in 1925 ) High min: 19.8.....2nd ( record 21.1 in 1906 ) Low min: 6.0.....13th ( record 1.8 in 1926 ) Record

Australia had its hottest March with the biggest anomalies across Northern Territory and Western Australia. This was the third record breaking month of the last four : December and January set a national record as well. http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/current/month/aus/summary.shtml

Final weeks of Australia's ( quiet ) cyclone season forecast to end with two severe systems crossing the coast at the end of the week. Veronica could reach rare Cat 5. Veronica: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-03-20/tropical-cyclone-veronica-forms-off-wa-sparking-pilbara-warning/10919402 Trevor: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-03-20/cyclone-trevor-tracks-across-cape-york-peninsula-as-category-two/10916524

You missed a couple from Australia 47.6 °C Kerang, Victoria on the 25th - a new January temperature record for Victoria (the previous one was 47.2 °C at Mildura Post Office, set on 10 January 1939). 41.6°C Canberra - tie January temperature record ( with 2013 )

Rinse and repeat... According to the BoM database Roebourne has records since 1957. It is in the Pilbara region in north-west Western Australia. Other stations in the Pilbara also broke their respective March records yesterday. These included Marble Bar 47.4 ( +0.7...records since 1901 ) and Port Hedland on the coast 47.0 ( +1.1...records since 1913 ). This arid area usually picks up monsoonal rain from time to time during the wet season but it has been very dry for months ramping up heatwave events.

February - Hobart, Tasmania Closer to average this month after the hottest and driest January. A mean temperature anomaly of +0.6 compared to 1981-10 or +0.8 compared to 1961-90. Average maximum: 22.9 ( +0.8 ) Average minimum: 13.0 ( +0.4 ) Rainfall: 35mm ( average 39mm ) Rain days ( +1mm ) : 4 31mm of rain fell on the night of the 6th into the 7th as low pressure formed over Tasmania. This was amplified by humid air from the North Queensland floods and a trough crossing from the north-west. For the remainder of the month Southern Ocean frontal systems saw cooler periods but only a shower or two making it over the Western Ranges. There was a cool onshore south-east wind with low cloud and brief drizzle on the 23rd as high pressure built to the south west, producing the coldest day. By the 25th high pressure was to the east, with a hot airflow from the mainland. Extremes in daily temperature for February ( records since 1882 ) : High max: 35.2.....25th ( record 40.1 in 1899 ) Low max: 16.8.....23rd ( record 9.6 in 1964 ) High min: 17.8.....18th ( record 24.7 in 1912 ) Low min: 8.0.....13th ( record 3.4 in 1980 )

Hobart smashed its March temperature record today with a high of 39.1c ( 19 above average ). A +1.8c leap from the 2008 and 1940 record and our hottest temperature for six years. A completely sunny but intolerable day to be outdoors with a moderate breeze and relative humidity of just 10%. The Tasmania March record of 38.0 was surpassed at five other locations. Cape Bruny ( on Bruny Island ) in the south-east was the hottest at 39.7c. That is an all-time record for that location and +4.0c up on their previous extreme for March, in almost a century of records. There were many individual records today but that one is the standout. Cooling down from tomorrow but not hitting "average" until the end of the week.

This article appeared on the ABC website this week. A couple of interesting geo-engineering projects are mentioned. I wonder how successful they will turn out to be? Ultimately, I do think this will be the end response over political consensus for rapid legislative change in how business is conducted or to put controls on individual choice and economic behavior. Thanks for your post and link Devonian. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-02-26/foreign-correspondent-climate-change-geoengineering/10833878

Record heat to start March in Tasmania. A forecast maximum of 38c on March 2, on the leeward side of the Central Plateau into the agricultural flat lands of the south-east. Hobart on the south-east coast has a forecast maximum of 37 ( 17 above average ). The March record for Tasmania is 38.0 ( 2008 ) and 37.3 in Hobart ( 2008 and 1940 ). Very dry north-west wind, not windy, but the fire fronts are likely to be whipped up again in this heat/low humidity situation. Up until now everything has been handled with fire smoldering at low intensity level

Based on how many years of official records?

How many of the protesting kids ( taking time out from class ) have made a practical pledge to change their own lifestyle.. to be minimal consumers and be environmentally conscious in everything they do? The only way major change is going to happen is by mass individual action on a practical level. I don't observe a mass global movement of people practically overhauling their value set which would drive dramatic change. Like it or not, we live in a capitalist society based on supply and demand - freedom of the people to decide what they want and how much they are willing to pay....and our democratic system is based on satisfying people's lifestyle and giving them what they want. I am a little bit pessimistic about the future because the rapid change which is required is just not politically feasible. The majority will not tolerate their freedoms as consumers being curtailed, paying more for product or electricity, or even sacraficing their job because it is in an environmentally damaging industry. Sorry for the negative post but I think we are not seeing the big changes that are required based on these hard truths.

It looks like Oma won't cross the Australia coast now. BoM has dropped its cyclone advice for Queensland. Predicted to steer north up the Queensland coast as a weak system, but well offshore.

Good news about the Tasmania fires and the environmental consequences. "..Contrary to widespread concerns the fires did not have a devastating impact on iconic Gondwanan vegetation in the TWWHA ( Tasmania World Heritage Area ). Preliminary analyses suggest overall only 3.2% of the area burnt was in rainforest and 4% was highland treeless vegetation (although much of this is fire-adapted)." Brief report from fire ecology expert here: https://firecentre.org.au/2019-tasmanian-fires-impacts-and-management-lessons/ .

Increasing chance of Tropical Cyclone Omar crossing the southern Queensland coast, near Brisbane, in a few days time. It would be rare for a cyclone to make landfall that far south, and potentially very damaging in that built up part of the state. Even if it stays out at sea and is eventually steered south, there will be considerable beach and coastal erosion with big swells down the eastern seaboard. It is a big system right now.

Tasmania fire conditions are much better. Many of the fire fronts have lost their intensity as the weather has turned favorable. Some excellent fire fighting expertise has also come into play. Humid rain on Wednesday brought 15-30 mm and the next 10 days will be mild with scattered showers. The map shows how much land - mainly forest - has been lost altogether. It is the biggest fire incident in Tasmania since 1967 which was the largest conflagration of the twentieth century. The worst aspect is the loss of wet forest and highland environments. David Bowman has researched this and found a changing ecological makeup in Tasmania's normally wet and cool south-west, following a number of fires in recent times caused by dry lightning. This event though is big. The map comes from the link below, problem is, it hasn't been updated for a couple of days https://ewen.carto.com/viz/2f45bbfa-eae3-4e86-baed-3f29d2b50b06/embed_map?fbclid=IwAR20k9UCQcj1kyvLHeB3b_dAx6SiARFRogxau81k9zF3s8ILIx4plqlrdn8

January - Hobart, Tasmania This was the hottest and driest January by far in 138 years of records. Rainfall total 0.4mm. Mean temperature anomaly +2.9c compared to 1981-10 ( below ) or +3.2c above 1961-90. Average maximum: 25.9 ( +3.7 ) Average minimum: 14.7 ( +2.1 ) Rainfall: 0.4mm over 2 days ( average 47mm ) The record heat was an extension of widespread high temperature anomaly across most of the continent. Blocking high pressure over the Tasman Sea ensured cool changes were brief and dry. Dry lightning ignited a number of bushfires resulting in smoky skies towards the end of the month. As well as being the hottest January it was the hottest month of any month exceeding February 2000 by +0.6c. It was also the equal driest month of any month, equaling December 1994. Seven days exceeded 30 degrees and this is also a record for any calendar month. Extremes in daily temperature for January ( records since 1882 ) High max: 37.9.....25th ( record 41.8 in 2013 ) Low max: 17.7.....23rd ( record 11.1 in 1885 ) High min: 19.1.....29th ( record 23.9 in 2018 ) Low min: 9.9.....13th ( record 3.3 in 1902 )T Records

Plenty more maps and analysis on the BoM website but this stark graph of January shows how dramatic the month was for temperature in Australia. http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/current/month/aus/summary.shtml

Severe bushfire threat unfolding south of Hobart . A lot of towns and villages under imminent threat. Shocking smoke pollution in Hobart too - visibility down to a few hundred metres.

But wait there's more...Borrona Downs Station in the far north-west corner of NSW has broken the Australia minimum temperature record with an official minimum of 36.6c to 9am. Previous Australia record 35.9 on the 17th of this month, and before that, 35.5.