Tasmania has a temperate maritime climate similar to that of
England's and, surrounded by ocean, it rarely experiences extremes
of temperature. The prevailing weather pattern is from west to east
and as a result the west coast is the wettest, while the east coast
is almost always warmer and milder than the rest of the state.
Summer brings warm days and mild evenings from December to February
with maximum temperatures averaging 70°F (21°C), while
winter can be stormy with snow on the mountain peaks between July
and August, with average maximum temperatures of 40°F (12°
C). Rainfall occurs throughout the year. Perhaps the best time to
travel to Tasmania is from February to April, as the weather is
most stable from the end of summer to autumn.