We often look to Tasmania and Victoria to see what weather is coming our way – usually a couple of days later their weather shows up here.  Heatwave in Melbourne? Wait a few days and sometimes it makes it to Canterbury.  Snowy blast hitting Tasmania?  Quite often the South Island will get a dusting a few days later.

However according to our friends at Weatherzone in Australia – Tasmania is on target for it’s hottest March on record.  It will be a few more days before NIWA releases their March figures – it will be interesting to see if any New Zealand regions are also following suit.

– WeatherWatch.co.nz

Hobart is enjoying a cooler Easter weekend, but its just about to wrap up it’s hottest March in 117 years of records.

If March stopped today in Hobart, the southern capital would have new March records for the warmest average minima and maxima. The cooler Easter weather may drop these figures below the previous records, however that will not stop it from breaking the combined record.

The warmest March on record was in 1990 with minima averaging 12.3 degrees and maxima averaging 22.5 to give a combined average of 34.8 degrees. This March is far warmer with a combined average of 36.9 degrees so far. By the end of the month this will probably be closer to 36, still smashing the old record.

The very warm March temperatures have been due to the dominance of high pressure systems near Tasmania. These have blocked or weakened most cold fronts approaching Tasmania. These highs have also allowed heat to remain over the mainland, being fed into Tasmania on a few occasions. On the 12th March Hobart came 0.1 degrees short of its hottest March temperature, hitting 36.6 degrees.

Today is cooler than most of the month, coming very close to the long term March average of 20 degrees. Saturday will be a stunning mostly sunny day with a top of 22 degrees before a weak cold front moves through early on Sunday bringing a few showers mostly in the morning. For those planning Easter egg hunts the afternoon will be best, although it will be a cooler day with a top of only 18 degrees.

– Weatherzone