Tasmania: Australia's Rainiest State? You Bet!

Author: Chris Nitsopoulos

Posted on: Wednesday, November 15th, 2023, 2:37:34 PM

Ever been curious about which Australian state is the soggiest of them all? Well, the answer might just surprise you – it's Tasmania, and it's not even a close race!

Why Tasmania, you ask? Picture this: Tasmania is like a small island taking a shower under the "Roaring Forties" – those fierce westerly winds that whip around the Earth between the 40th and 50th latitudes. These winds bring in a whole lot of rain, especially on the west coast, which gets absolutely drenched!

But here's a cool bit of science for you: Tasmania's mountains play a huge role in squeezing out every last drop of moisture from those clouds. This process, called orographic lifting, is like a natural rain machine, particularly during the chilly winter months. The west side of Tassie gets the lion's share of rain, while the east side gets a bit less – but still a decent amount, thanks to the depth of those moisture-laden frontal systems.

Oh, and because Tassie is surrounded by ocean, it doesn't really matter which way the wind blows; there's always some moisture coming in. In winter, those big cold fronts mean serious business, dumping loads of rain. Even in summer, the western mountains are like a sponge, soaking up 400-600mm of rain, while the rest of the state might only see 100-200mm.

Compared to the rest of Australia, Tassie's rain is pretty reliable. Victoria, though known for its heatwaves and bushfire risks, comes in a distant second. Queensland, despite having some of the wettest towns and one of the wettest mountains in the world, also has large dry areas. And as for South Australia, well, let's just say it's the driest kid on the block.

So there you have it – Tasmania, the undisputed champ of Australian rain. Want to dive deeper into weather wonders? Join us as an OCC subscriber and get your hands on accurate and in-depth weather video forecasts, especially during Northern Australia's 'Big Wet'.