Wild windy weather hits Tasmania: Power outages

Damaging winds are causing havoc across Tasmania, leaving thousands of people without power and putting authorities on high alert.

Image: TasNetworks

Updated: Winds of more than 150km/h have been recorded at kunanyi/Mount Wellington during a day of wild weather.

The Bureau of Meteorology said conditions are expected to ease into the late afternoon and evening.

The SES has responded to 68 call-outs since 8am,

As of 3pm, SES Tasmania Executive Director Mick Lowe said 12 requests for help were still active.

“These have been across all parts of the state,” Mr Lowe said.

“They’ve been primarily based around wind damage in terms of fallen trees, downed power lines and partial roofs that sort of blown.”

Wild weather leaves 1000s without power

Damaging winds are causing havoc across Tasmania, leaving thousands of people without power and putting authorities on high alert.

A deep low pressure system over the Southern Ocean to the west of Tasmania is rapidly moving across the east and southeast of the state today and will pass into the south, according to the Bureau of Meteorology.

A statewide severe weather warning has been issued for damaging winds and Tasmanians have been urged to supervise children closely, check that their family and neighbours are aware of the warnings, manage pets and livestock, and secure outdoor items.

“Strong north-westerly winds averaging 50 to 60 km/h with damaging wind gusts around 110 km/h have developed throughout the state,” the bureau said.

Gusts are expected to affect the Hobart area into the midafternoon on Friday and should ease “below warning thresholds” by the evening.

As at 2pm, there were 37 power outages across the state, affecting more than 7500 TasNetworks customers.

Among the hardest hit areas are the northwest with outages from Wynyard to Somerset and also Zeehan on the West Coast.

In the south, power is out as far south as Port Arthur and Nubeena and also parts of South and West Hobart, Kingston, Fern Tree and Leslie Vale.

On Hobart’s eastern shore, crews are working to bring back power to residents and businesses at Cambridge and Mornington.

TasNetworks says Lilydale and Scottsdale have had outages.

Power lines have come down in the vicinity of Pass Rd and Cambridge Rd at Mornington, while a shed from a nearby construction site has reportedly blown over the road at Kingston, causing a hazard in the area of Sparrowhawk St, Goshawk Way, and Kingston Park. Police have asked people to avoid the area until the debris is removed.

Waterworks Reserve at Dynnyrne is closed due to the winds, with the Hobart City Council saying on Facebook that “there is a high risk the winds could bring down large branches or even trees”.

SeaLink suspended the Bruny Island ferry service from 12.10pm amid the dangerous weather but restored the service at 1.50pm from Kettering and 2.10pm from Roberts Point.

Originally published as Wild windy weather hits Tasmania: Power outages