Climate and Average Weather in Tasmania
Tasmania is one of Australia's six states and is the country's southernmost and only island state. It is home to conservation sites, natural parks, and abundant biodiversity. As Tasmania is predominantly mountainous, the state's terrain is perfect for hiking, rock climbing, and rafting activities that travellers love.
Tasmania is overwhelmingly elevated and untouched, so much so that a large portion of Tasmania's land mass was designated as the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area (TWWHA) by UNESCO in 1982. Tasmania is likewise home to the Tasmanian devil and the now-extinct Tasmanian tiger, both of which are globally recognized symbols of Australia.
The average maximum monthly summer temperatures sit between 17 and 23 degrees Celsius (62 and 73 degrees Fahrenheit) and winter monthly between 3 and 11 degrees Celsius (37 and 51 degrees Fahrenheit). Rainfall varies dramatically across the Island.
Tasmania's coldest month is June while February is the warmest. June has moderate average maximum daytime temperatures of 12°C (54°F) in Queenstown and 14°C (57°F) in Coles Bay. At nighttime, temperatures drop to 7°C (45°F) in Coles Bay and 3°C (37°F) in Queenstown. Meanwhile, February has warm average maximum daytime temperatures of 22°C (72°F) in Hobart and 25°C (76°F) in Launceston.
In terms of precipitation, August is Tasmania's wettest month of the year while February is the driest. August has moderate precipitation in Coles Bay with 49mm (1.9inch) of rainfall to heavy in Queenstown with 270mm (11inch) of rainfall. Meanwhile, June has moderate precipitation in Launceston with 35mm (1.4inch) of rainfall to a high level of precipitation in Queenstown with 100mm (3.9inch) of rainfall.
Does it snow in Tasmania?
As an island with a temperate climate, Tasmania gets snow although to a lesser degree. In general, Tasmania does not get snowfall often because most elevations in the island are not high enough for snow to regularly happen. Mount Kunanyi or Mount Wellington is among the few elevations in Tasmania that gets fully covered by snow in winter.
Does Tasmania get hurricanes?
Australians use the term cyclones instead of hurricanes. There is no recorded cyclone to have ever hit Tasmania as the island state is out of reach from the tropical zone where cyclones typically form. Instead, Tasmania gets heavy rains in certain areas of the island where flooding is rare, making Tasmania safe and essentially all of Australia one of the safest areas in the world from natural disasters.
When is the best time to visit Tasmania?
It can be cold in winter and autumn in Tasmania, so the best time to visit is in spring and summer. While it is snowing and freezing cold in Europe and a big part of the US, Tasmania is very warm during Christmas in contrast, making it possible to visit beaches in New Year's Eve. Autumn still has sunny days ideal to either explore wildlife in Queenstown at 13°C (55°F) or spend time walking at the beaches of Coles Bay at 14°C (57°F).
Interested in more detailed Weather and Climate information?
Please select the city below you wish to travel to, or the one closest to your destination. Each selected city will show you the following graphs:
1. Average minimum and maximum temperatures over the year
2. Average monthly precipitation over the year (rainfall, snow etc)
3. Average monthly hours of sunshine over the year
On certain pages we also offer other historical weather data like humidity, wind speed and water temperature.
