Strong winds across Tasmania’s North and North-West cut power, close road

UPDATED: Nearly 2000 TasNetworks customers are without power and a fallen tree has caused a road closure this morning after strong winds lashed Tasmania overnight.

Clean up after storm damage on Wilmot Road near Forth. PICTURE CHRIS KIDD

NEARLY 2000 TasNetworks customers are without power this morning due to severe weather conditions after strong winds lashed the state overnight.

The TasNetworks website showed 1200 were affected in the North-West, and 565 in the North. Long delays were expected in many of the affected areas.

Since 11pm last night, SES responded to four requests for assistance which included roof damage, window damage and providing assistance for a tree over the road.

In the 12 hours prior to that, SES responded to seven requests for assistance to support police with traffic control with trees over roads and sandbagging in Burnie due to the abnormally high tide.

A police spokesman said crews were kept busy with weather call-outs overnight, particularly about the North-West.

Power pole damaged after storm at Wilmot Road near Forth. PICTURE CHRIS KIDD

A tree fell on Wilmot Rd at Forth, bringing down power lines in the process, and police asked motorists to avoid the area if possible.

Bureau of Meteorology duty forecaster Belinda House said the wind gusts were “nothing too out of the ordinary.” She said elevated areas across the state and the North and West of Tasmania got the most wind.

“Some of the exposed locations picked up wind gusts in excess of 100km/h, those included Cape Grim, Low Head, Maria Island, Mt Wellington got close with a 98km/h gust there,” Ms House said.

“An interesting one was Devonport had sustained winds of 77km/h, and that was for about half an hour before midnight, so it’s had some sustained gale force winds there.”

⚠️ Another windy day ahead for parts of #Tasmania. West to Northwesterly winds are expected to increase (again) during the day about the north coast and Bass Strait, and also about the west later this evening.

Full warning here: https://t.co/8cvZh1myxc pic.twitter.com/R7Y17qkY7F

— Bureau of Meteorology, Tasmania (@BOM_Tas) 10 July 2019

Ms House said the heaviest rainfalls were across the North of the state, while there was only light rain about the South-East and East.

“Since 9am [Wednesday] morning, some of our heaviest falls have included 55mm at Liawenee, 47mm at Strahan on the West Coast, 45mm at Cape Sorell, 45mm at Sheffield,” she said.

Clean up after storm damage on Wilmot Road near Forth. PICTURE CHRIS KIDD

Ms House said there was a chance of thunderstorms about the West and North coast today, and about the West and far South on Friday, pushing into the Bass Strait islands on Friday evening.

“We’ve got showers about the West, Bass Strait, and the North coast of the state today, and they will extend statewide this evening

“[There will be] showers throughout the state on Friday, but clearing from the East in the afternoon.

A severe weather warning is in place for damaging winds for parts of the state today.

EARLIER:

WILD weather that hit the state on Wednesday and caused flight delays is set to continue.

Tasmanian-bound flights from Melbourne were delayed by as much as two hours because of strong winds in the Victorian capital.

Bureau of Meteorology meteorologist Tim Bolden said high winds in Tasmania were likely to redevelop about the North and North-West on Thursday night.

“As far as a respite for the winds and the rain, it really doesn’t look like we’ll be seeing that for the next few days,” Mr Bolden said.

He said the low pressure systems rotating around each other south of the Bight causing this weather was a “hallmark” of a normal winter.

(L-R) Fletcher Wescombe 17, Sienna Dredge 16 and Austin Guard 16 at Guide Falls near Burnie. Picture: CHRIS KIDD

A severe weather warning was issued on Wednesday when north to north-westerly winds were averaging 60 to 70 km/h over northern, central, western and eastern Tasmania.

Melbourne Airport was reduced to a single runway from before 6am on Wednesday, causing widespread delays.

Jetstar, Qantas, Virgin and Rex flights into and out of Tasmania were delayed by up to two hours

Total rainfall for Thursday will be 10 to 20mm about the North, and 20 to 30mm about the West, with higher rainfall likely about elevated sites. Less than 5mm is forecast for the South-east.

Temperatures on Thursday will be about 13-14C in Hobart and Launceston, and another cold front is set to cross the state on Friday morning.

The SES has advised people to tie down loose outdoor items and to supervise children and animals closely.