Weatherzone meteorologist Tristan Myers said  Launceston received only 66 per cent of its 232.9 millimetre average winter rainfall, with just 153.9 millimetres falling in June, July and August combined.

But the more impressive statistic was Launceston’s temperature, he said.

‘‘Launceston’s minimum winter average of 1.84 degrees was its coldest minimum since 1982 and 12.58 degrees was its lowest maximum winter average since 1995,’’ Mr Myers said.

‘‘When you combine the maximum and minimum temperatures for the three months of winter, Launceston had its coldest combined winter average for 35 years.’’

Mr Myers said the expected warmer than average sea surface temperatures meant spring should be much more comfortable in Launceston than the winter was.

‘‘The sea surface temperatures don’t mean as much for Tasmania as they do for the eastern seaboard of the mainland, but they suggest that Tasmania should have about average temperatures and rainfall,’’ he said.

‘‘I think it’s good news.’’

In other areas, Devonport had its coldest month,August, for 23 years, with the average minimum for the month 3.5 degrees, down from 5.1 degrees. 

Devonport was also particularly dry for winter, with just 180mm falling for the season, down from an average of 263mm.

A number of other centres were also well down on average rainfall for the winter season and continue to lag for the year. By contrast, Hobart has been relatively mild, with its average daily minimum 4.4 degrees, but still below the average of 5 degrees, and its lowest daily temperature 0.3 degrees on June 22.

Close to Hobart, Mount Wellington hit a low of minus 7.5 degrees on August 3, just better than the long-term record of minus 7.8 degrees set in 1964.

On the East Coast, St Helens hit a winter low of minus 0.9 degrees on July 3.