Climate Risk Profile: Sorell, TAS

Sorell, Tasmania
Updated Mar 2026

Sorell is a suburb in Tasmania that faces moderate climate risks, particularly from flooding, bushfires, heatwaves and coastal hazards. These risks are projected to increase in the future due to climate change. Residents and property owners should take steps to prepare for these risks.

Is Sorell Safe from Climate Risk?

Enter your address below for an instant climate risk assessment for Sorell, Tasmania, covering flood, bushfire, sea level rise and more.

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What A$49 could save you from

$7.2B
2022 insured disaster losses*
$300B+
climate risk to property by 2050*
30-120%
insurance premium increases in high-risk areas*

*Industry sources: ICA, APRA, RBA

Full report from A$49 · Australian addresses only · 8 hazard scores · Insurance trajectory · 2030 & 2050 projections

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Overall Risk Score

Address-level

Hazard Breakdown

Flood, bushfire, heat, coastal and storm exposure are all assessed in this area. The score that matters is the property's own: a ClimateNest report scores the address across eight hazards, with insurance and value projections to 2050.

What the mapping shows for Sorell

  • Part of Sorell is mapped as subject to coastal inundation.

    2% of Sorell is mapped as subject to coastal inundation (coastal inundation hazard band, including 1% AEP storm tide at 2100)

  • 10.9% of Sorell is mapped as subject to coastal erosion (coastal erosion hazard band mapped for the Tasmanian planning system)

Tasmanian Coastal Inundation Hazard Bands (20161201), State of Tasmania (Department of Premier and Cabinet), Creative Commons Attribution 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-23

This is a share of the suburb's land area from a published state dataset, not an assessment of any property. A ClimateNest report scores the individual address across eight hazards, with insurance and value projections to 2050.

Check an address in Sorell →

Climate Hazard Breakdown for Sorell

Flood

Sorell faces a moderate risk of flooding due to its proximity to waterways and low-lying areas. Increased rainfall intensity could exacerbate this risk.

Key drivers:

  • ·Increased rainfall intensity
  • ·Sea level rise

Bushfire

The risk of bushfires in Sorell is moderate, with surrounding bushland posing a potential threat during dry periods. Changes in temperature and rainfall patterns could increase the frequency and intensity of bushfires.

Key drivers:

  • ·Increased temperatures
  • ·Drier conditions

Heat

Sorell is likely to experience more frequent and intense heatwaves in the future. This could pose a risk to vulnerable populations, such as the elderly and those with chronic health conditions.

Key drivers:

  • ·Rising average temperatures
  • ·Increased frequency of heatwaves

Coastal

Sorell faces a moderate risk from coastal hazards due to sea level rise and storm surges. Low-lying coastal areas are particularly vulnerable to inundation and erosion.

Key drivers:

  • ·Sea level rise
  • ·Increased storm surge intensity

Wind

Data being compiled

Storm

Data being compiled

Social

Data being compiled

Energy

Data being compiled

In-Depth Climate Risk Guides for Sorell

Detailed Hazard Analysis

heat Risk

Sorell is likely to experience more frequent and intense heatwaves in the future. This could pose a risk to vulnerable populations, such as the elderly and those with chronic health conditions.

Primary Drivers

  • ·Rising average temperatures
  • ·Increased frequency of heatwaves
Data source

flood Risk

Sorell faces a moderate risk of flooding due to its proximity to waterways and low-lying areas. Increased rainfall intensity could exacerbate this risk.

Primary Drivers

  • ·Increased rainfall intensity
  • ·Sea level rise
  • ·Inadequate drainage infrastructure
Data source

coastal Risk

Sorell faces a moderate risk from coastal hazards due to sea level rise and storm surges. Low-lying coastal areas are particularly vulnerable to inundation and erosion.

Primary Drivers

  • ·Sea level rise
  • ·Increased storm surge intensity
  • ·Coastal erosion
Data source

bushfire Risk

The risk of bushfires in Sorell is moderate, with surrounding bushland posing a potential threat during dry periods. Changes in temperature and rainfall patterns could increase the frequency and intensity of bushfires.

Primary Drivers

  • ·Increased temperatures
  • ·Drier conditions
  • ·Fuel load
Data source

What This Means for Property Owners

Insurance Outlook

Insurance premiums are likely to increase in the future due to climate change risks.

Price Impact

Properties in high-risk areas may experience a decrease in value.

Buyer Checklist

  • 1.Check flood maps and bushfire-prone area designations.
  • 2.Assess the property's vulnerability to heatwaves.
  • 3.Consider the potential impacts of sea level rise.
  • 4.Review insurance options and premiums.

How the region's climate is projected to change

Regional projections, not a forecast for this street. Figures are from the WA Department of Water and Environmental Regulation's climate projections for the South Western Flatlands region, which draws on CSIRO and Bureau of Meteorology modelling.

Temperature

+0.5 to 1.1°C by 2030

Above the 1986–2005 climate, on all emissions scenarios. By 2090, 1.2 to 2.0°C under intermediate emissions or 2.6 to 4.0°C under high emissions.

Rainfall

Winter rain down up to 15% by 2030

The South West has been drying since 1970, and the decline has been larger than anywhere else in Australia. Heavy rainfall events are projected to become more intense even as totals fall.

Fire weather

Harsher, magnitude uncertain

High confidence that fire weather becomes harsher, low confidence in the size of the change, because it depends heavily on summer rainfall.

Sea level

+0.12 m by 2030

At the Fremantle gauge, range 0.07 to 0.16 m. Very high confidence that sea levels continue to rise through the century.

Source: Department of Water and Environmental Regulation (WA), Western Australian climate projections: summary, September 2021, South Western Flatlands chapter. Read the projections →

Adaptation Recommendations

Improve drainage infrastructure

Near-term

Upgrade drainage systems to reduce the risk of flooding during heavy rainfall events.

Est. cost: Medium

Learn more

Implement bushfire management strategies

Near-term

Conduct fuel reduction burns and maintain firebreaks to reduce the risk of bushfires.

Est. cost: Medium

Learn more

Develop a heatwave response plan

Immediate

Establish cooling centers and provide support to vulnerable populations during heatwaves.

Est. cost: Low

Learn more

Protect coastal areas

Long-term

Implement coastal protection measures, such as seawalls and beach nourishment, to reduce the risk of erosion and inundation.

Est. cost: High

Learn more

Raise awareness about climate risks

Near-term

Educate residents about the risks of climate change and how to prepare for extreme weather events.

Est. cost: Low

Learn more

About Sorell's Climate Risk Profile

Sorell, Tasmania, is a region that is increasingly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. The primary risks include flooding due to increased rainfall and sea level rise, bushfires exacerbated by hotter and drier conditions, more frequent and intense heatwaves, and coastal hazards such as erosion and storm surges.

The risk of flooding is a significant concern for Sorell, given its proximity to waterways and low-lying coastal areas. Climate change is expected to increase rainfall intensity, leading to more frequent and severe flooding events. Sea level rise will further exacerbate this risk, particularly in coastal areas.

Bushfire risk is also projected to increase in Sorell due to hotter and drier conditions. Changes in temperature and rainfall patterns could lead to longer bushfire seasons and more intense fires. This poses a threat to properties and infrastructure located near bushland.

Heatwaves are expected to become more frequent and intense in Sorell as a result of climate change. This could have significant impacts on human health, particularly for vulnerable populations such as the elderly and those with chronic health conditions.

Coastal hazards, such as erosion and storm surges, are also a concern for Sorell. Sea level rise is expected to increase the frequency and severity of these events, posing a threat to coastal properties and infrastructure.

Suburb pages describe the local picture. The address-level assessment, with its data sources and its dollar projections, is in the ClimateNest report.

Local Government Resources

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the main climate change risks in Sorell?

The main climate change risks in Sorell include flooding, bushfires, heatwaves, and coastal hazards.

How is the Sorell Council addressing climate change?

The Sorell Council is developing and implementing strategies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to the impacts of climate change.

What can I do to prepare for flooding in Sorell?

You can prepare for flooding by elevating your home, installing flood barriers, and developing a flood emergency plan.

How can I protect my property from bushfires in Sorell?

You can protect your property from bushfires by clearing vegetation around your home, maintaining firebreaks, and installing a sprinkler system.

What should I do during a heatwave in Sorell?

During a heatwave, you should stay indoors, drink plenty of water, and avoid strenuous activity.

Where can I find more information about climate change in Sorell?

You can find more information about climate change in Sorell on the Sorell Council website and the websites of relevant state government agencies.

Get your property's risk report

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What A$49 could save you from

$7.2B
2022 insured disaster losses*
$300B+
climate risk to property by 2050*
30-120%
insurance premium increases in high-risk areas*

*Industry sources: ICA, APRA, RBA

Full report from A$49 · Australian addresses only · 8 hazard scores · Insurance trajectory · 2030 & 2050 projections