Weather News

Cold, wet and windy wake up for Tasmania

A vigorous cold front swept through Tasmania on Saturday morning bringing rain, damaging winds and freezing temperatures.

The front started crossing the Apple Isle before the sun had even risen, rattling windows and sending temperatures tumbling making it that bit harder to climb out of bed.

Northwesterly wind gusts ahead of the front reached 100km/h across the state including: Scotts Peak Dam (133km/h), Maatsuyker Island (126km/h) and Mt Wellington (124km/h). Cape Sorell had their strongest winds since October (104km/h). Even places that are usually protected from winds of this strength felt the brunt of the cold front. Triabunna on the East Coast recorded a 100km/h gust.

Those in Launceston awoke to howling winds of 107km/h, the highest recorded in five years. The front also brought 4mm of rain to the town and dropped temperatures by five degrees. Hobart dodged the strongest winds with a gust of 74km/h while picking up 9mm of rain.

The highest rainfall totals were in the west where there were widespread falls of over 10mm. Lake St Clair had the highest in the state with 27mm reaching the gauge. The rain fell heavily at times with Warra picking up 5mm in just 10 minutes and Mt Read 6mm in the same time.

The front plunged temperatures below freezing in some places including Mt Wellington where it chilled to minus one and Mt Read to zero. These sub-zero temperatures allowed for a snow flurry or two. For the remainder of Saturday snow is forecast to fall to around 700m in parts of the Western district.

Showers will continue through Saturday in the wake of the front, especially in the west. On Sunday a high pressure system will move in allowing showers to clear.

- Weatherzone

© Weatherzone 2014

More breaking news

ABC News
Sydney Morning Herald
National Nine News
News Limited

Exmouth flooding: town in north-west Western Australia cut off by floods

11:17 EST Work is underway to clear roadways in Exmouth after heavy rain caused flooding, cutting off the West Australian town.