Australia Weather News

For many Tasmanians it will be no surprise the heavy rains since the beginning of May have set a new three-month record, before the end of the period.

Despite the official three month period finishing at the weekend, the records so far show the rain drops falling from the beginning in May have mounted up to break Tasmania's previous highest average rainfall.

Up until yesterday, the average area rainfall for the 2016 July quarter was 730 millimetres, with another six days until the end of the this month.

That already beats the previous three-month record set in the same period in 1931, of 714 millimetres.

The deluge came after farmers endured one of the state's driest periods in summer.

The heavy rain caused millions of dollars of damage to farms, destroying infrastructure and stock and they are continuing to struggle with wet conditions causing headaches for crop growers,

Seasonal climate specialist Dale Grey told ABC Radio's Country Hour the above average falls were expected to continue into spring, causing problems for farmers affected by this year's floods.

"People would probably like a bit of dryness for the next couple of months, to let things soak out, that doesn't look like it's going to happen," he said.

"If it's wetter, it certainly guarantees you will have good spring for pasture, there is no doubt about that, so pasture growth will be good and it will last until Christmas," he said.

$5.5 million to help

To help farmers recover, the Tasmanian Premier has announced a $5.5 million assistance package, with grants of up to $10,000 from the Federal and Tasmanian governments.

"Our farmers suffered loss of property, equipment and livestock," Premier Will Hodgman said.

"They have an extraordinary clean up task ahead of them.

"We estimate there are over 500 farmers who will be eligible for assistance," he said.

Tasmanian Farmers and Graziers Association president Wayne Johnston said the grant would help farmers recoup funds they had already spent.

"A lot of farmers would probably say it's not enough, but it is something more than what they had to help them replace infrastructure, livestock and help them clear debris."