Wild winds spark warnings in WA, Tasmania, Victorian

Severe wind warnings for several states continue to raise alarm for millions as conditions intensify.

The Windy.com wind radar as at 8am on Monday. Picture: Supplied

Tasmania residents are being warned to brace for winds up to 125km/hr, as other states also face extreme conditions.

Miriam Bradbury, from the Bureau of Meteorology, said multiple states will experience intense wind conditions as a strong cold front moves across southern parts of Australia this week.

Severe strong wind warnings remain in place for parts of Western Australia, most of Tasmania and southern Victoria.

In WA, Ms Bradbury said coastal and inland parts of the south west including Albany and Margaret River will experience strong winds from Monday.

Kitesurfer will be able to make the most of the strong wind conditions. Picture: NewsWire / Andrew Henshaw

“We’re likely to see winds increasing throughout the South West Land Division through the ocurs of today but winds will be most intense and possibly damaging through the (southern west region),” she said.

“The front will move through during today and we’ll see winds easing back tomorrow in the wake of that system but we may still see some isolated damaging wind gusts all the way out to tomorrow afternoon.”

Meanwhile, Tasmania will face the brunt of the strong winds, as the front moves east across the country, with some areas forecast to experience winds up to 125km/hr.

“In these southeastern warning areas, winds are likely to increase from tomorrow morning as the cold front approaches,” Ms Bradbury said.

“They’ll peak later in the day as the system moves through but continue overnight into Wednesday morning for some areas.

“Winds are likely to be most intense in parts of Tasmania, we may see destructive wind gust up to 125km/hr about elevated parts of the state and along parts of the east coast.

“Those destructive winds are possible from late morning tomorrow, with that high end risk easing back tomorrow night.

“We will still see gusty to damaging winds continuing across Tasmania into Wednesday.”

The Bureau forecast up to 300m rainfall in some parts of Tasmania as the state experiences heavier falls from Friday.

“A flood watch is likely to go out later today,” Ms Bradbury said.

Victoria will also experience strong winds as the front moves east across the Bite before it eases late Wednesday.

However, Ms Bradbury said another strong cold front makes its way across the southern states on Thursday.

Meanwhile, in NSW, parts of the Illawarra, south coast, Goulburn and Katoomba can expect damaging wind gusts in excess of 90km/h until Monday afternoon.

Nowra, Bowral, Braidwood, Goulburn and Selwyn could also get a lashing.

On the mountains, average winds stronger than 80km/h with gusts up to 125km/h are expected above 1900m.

Areas of central Victoria were pummelled by hail on Sunday. Picture: Facebook

Just before 8pm on Sunday, wind gusts at Thredbo hit 128km/h.

The State Emergency Service is telling people to move vehicles under cover or away from trees, secure loose items around the house, keep away from fallen power lines, and be aware that bushfires may have changed the landscape around you, including weakening trees.

The Victorian SES received 422 calls for help from 9am to 9pm on Sunday, as the weather system swept through.

Just more than half of those calls were for help with fallen trees, and 123 calls were for building damage.

A busy day for our incredible SES volunteers with 422 Requests for Assistance (RFA) received from 9am to 9pm. Most requests in relation to trees down with 230 RFAs received, and 123 RFAs in relation to building damage. Great job to all of our volunteers responding today 🧡🧡 pic.twitter.com/bQoWd8GqUL

— VICSES News (@vicsesnews) August 25, 2024

Hailstones bigger than golf balls, some close to tennis ball size, fell around Bendigo in central Victoria.

Sky News meteorologist Rob Sharpe said the strongest winds recorded on Sunday were gusts up to 102km/h at Falls Creek.

Lightning swept across Victoria to Canberra on Sunday night and then dissipated by 2am on Monday, he said.

“It’s all eased back this morning, there’s barely any wet weather across the country,” Mr Sharpe.

A few showers were set to persist in western Tasmania, which was in for a wet week, he said.

The Bureau of Meteorology has issued severe wind warnings for parts of NSW. Picture: Bureau of Meteorology

There are, however, wind warnings for the Southern Alps and southern ranges. Mr Sharpe said those warnings would calm down by Monday afternoon.

“I’m expecting many more wind warnings this week particularly across Tasmania and the Victorian alpine terrain,” he said

Conditions were warm across the country during the weekend.

“It very much feels like spring is already here,” Mr Sharpe said.

Originally published as Wild winds spark warnings in WA, Tasmania, Victorian