Tasmania braces for snow and hail just days before summer

A cold front will dump snow down to 500m across Tasmania just four days before summer begins, while authorities warn bush walkers of hazardous conditions.

As the top half of Australia is being warned of heatwave conditions, Tasmania is set for another wintry burst with snow and small hail over coming days.

Just four days from summer, a cold front is set to lash Tasmania bringing snow and small hail while those on the mainland swelter through heatwave conditions.

Sky News meteorologist Tamsin Green said it was “really a tale of two halves” as temperatures soar in the north of the country while blustery conditions hit the south.

“You wouldn’t believe it as we’re just days away from summer, but another cold front pushes in midweek and we’ll see temperatures drop away quite significantly once again, particularly across Tasmania and Victoria,” she said.

Ms Green described Tasmania’s forecast as “feeling unseasonably wintry”, with the Bureau of Meteorology tipping snow down to 500m in parts of the state.

A snow-capped kunanyi from the Hobart waterfront. Picture: katypotaty77/instagram

The Bureau of Meteorology issued a bush walkers weather alert and warning to sheep graziers ahead of the cold blast, with cold temperatures, showers and westerly winds expected during Thursday.

“Bush walkers are advised that snow as low as 500 metres is expected from early Thursday morning until later in the day. These hazardous conditions are expected to occur in parts of the Western and Central Plateau forecast districts,” the warning read.

The sheep graziers warning is likely to affect parts of the North West Coast, Midlands, Upper Derwent Valley and South East forecast districts.

Showers are also expected from Thursday into the weekend, with a strong wind warning also current for the Derwent Estuary.

Originally published as Tasmania braces for snow and hail just days before summer