Bureau of Meteorology issues severe weather warning for entire state amid forecast of damaging winds
Batten down the hatches, a severe weather warning has been issued for the entire state – the first time in at least four years such a wide-ranging warning has been issued.
Tasmania
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TASMANIANS are being warned to take all precautions to protect themselves and their property amid concerns about wild weather and destructive winds statewide on Sunday.
A statewide severe weather alert for damaging winds has been issued by the Bureau of Meteorology, the first time in at least four years such a wide-ranging warning has been issued.
A trough and cold front are expected to cross Tasmania, bringing vigorous west to north-westerly winds over the state.
Bureau duty forecaster Anna Forrest said there would be wind gusts of over 110km/h, and more than 125km/h in elevated sites.
Ms Forrest said the strong winds would be “quite a bit worse” than those that hit some parts of the state earlier in the week.
The south and southwest of the state will start experiencing the strong winds about 2am, with populated areas to be hit about dawn.
Ms Forrest said people should “tie down the trampolines” in preparation for the wild weather.
“Take all the necessary precautions today because it’s going to be too late to leave it until after then,” she said.
“The saving grace is I don’t think [the wind] is going to be absolutely everywhere at the same time.
“It will stay windy right through to Monday but the winds are going to drop below the warning thresholds.”
Ms Forrest said overnight on Sunday, snow levels were expected to drop to about 400m.
Winds are expected to peak during the late morning and early afternoon on Sunday, before easing below the warning threshold in the late afternoon and evening as the frontal system clears to the east.
The bureau said locations that may be affected include Devonport, Burnie, Launceston, St Helens, Swansea, Strahan, New Norfolk and Hobart.
The State Emergency Service advised people should supervise children closely, check that family and neighbours are aware of warnings, manage pets and livestock, and secure outdoor items including furniture and play equipment.
Tasmanians were asked to be prepared in case of power outages and report them to TasNetworks on 132 004, beware of damaged trees and power lines, and take care when driving.
For emergency assistance, phone the SES on 132 500.
Trees, powerlines down as wild weather lashes Tassie - August 11
Overnight winds of up to 115km/h have caused trees and powerlines to fall on kunanyi/Mt Wellington and led to the closure of Wellington Park walking and bike tracks.
A council spokeswoman said “safety reasons” led to the closures and “our crews will be getting in there asap to inspect and make the tracks safe and will re-open them as it’s safe to do so”.
“Damaging winds are expected to continue across the region this morning, so please stay safe,” the spokeswoman said.
Also in the Hobart area, a tree has fallen onto powerlines on the Pipeline Track between Clegg Road and Greys Road at Fern Tree, with TasNetworks on their way this morning.
In a remarkable feat only two SES callouts were made in last night’s howling, wild winds for trees that had fallen down in Snug in the state’s South.
>> CURRENT TASSIE FLOOD WARNINGS
Cold front to cross #Tasmania today, with the next front Fri and a stronger front on Sun. Fresh to strong and gusty W to NW winds across the state until Tues next week. Stay safe and hold onto your hats! pic.twitter.com/mZo2NRTVct
— Bureau of Meteorology, Tasmania (@BOM_Tas) August 11, 2021
A tree is reported to have fallen on the Tasman Highway, about 2km from Triabunna, amid ongoing wild winds across the state.
A Tasmania Police spokeswoman said a call was received just before midday reporting the tree had fallen either on or near the highway.
There are no current reports of injuries.
Meanwhile it was “quite a peaceful night’ on the North-West Coast with some rainfall to lull its’ residents into a soft slumber and the North had a “windy but not too bad” night of it.
It was the South of the state that suffered a bad night’s sleep with houses rattled and nerves shattered due to ongoing windy conditions.
“Despite the winds it was actually pretty quiet for us, we only sent one or two crews out to reports of trees blocking driveways at Snug and their removal is still in progress (this morning),” State Emergency Service (SES) Regional Manager for the South Mark Nelson said.
“I did hear there may have been a few issues with power but nothing else, but we are always ready to help if needed.”
Mr Nelson said the SES would be monitoring the fairly “typical winter weather” for the rest of the week with just a few concerns about a weather system that could arrive on Friday that could “bring potential strong winds again” and a Westerly expected to arrive on Sunday which could be windy too.
“At this stage though we don’t currently have any alerts from the BOM,” Mr Nelson said.
âš ï¸Updated #Flood#Watch issued for #Derwent, North, North East, North West and South East Coastal catchments, Wednesday. See https://t.co/V9LYfDAYDq for details and updates; follow advice from @SESTasmania. #TasFloodspic.twitter.com/0C8vOzKKdf
— Bureau of Meteorology, Tasmania (@BOM_Tas) August 11, 2021
Following a few months of wet weather for the Northern region of the state, SES Northern Regional Manager Peter Rawlings said home-owners were well prepared for weather events such as windy conditions which helps in their line of work.
“The positive thing is because we have had a lot of rain in the last few months on and off, if people have issues with their buildings and structures they have probably identified them by now and reduced them which results in less callouts for us,” he said.
“There is a degree of resilience in the rural areas too as they are used to these conditions, when they get these forecasts – especially the graziers – they will move their livestock straight to higher grounds.”
However Mr Rawlings said to “watch this space” with “the forecast for winds to pick up near Devonport (Wednesday) afternoon and move East”.
Low snows predicted to fall in the coming days are of more concern to the North West and West Coasts, which experienced a fairly uneventful night.
“Low snows will probably have some impact in the higher areas of the region, from Waratah to the West Coast and up into Cradle Mountain, when we have snow on roads that can causes issues with more arduous driving conditions,” SES North West Regional Officer Damian Hingston said.
“Snow is forecast to fall to around 800 metres late Wednesday and Thursday morning,” Luke Johnston from the Bureau of Meteorology said.
“Showers will persist into the West and far South for the rest of the week ahead, and strong winds are expected again during the day on Friday with the passage of another cold front.
“Minor Flood Warnings are current for the North Esk, South Esk, Macquarie and Huon River, and a Flood Watch is current for multiple catchments, as catchments are wet and rivers are responding to rainfall.”
Waiting for a bus in the windy conditions on Wednesday afternoon was Finn Zabel, aged 5, of North Hobart who said the wind “almost blew my hair away”.
His sister Lottie Zabel, aged 7, was also in agreeance saying “the wind is so crazy I love it” and cousin Esther Kelly, aged 6, of Bellerive said “it is so blowie I lost my hair clip”.
Wild week ahead
HAIL, thunderstorms, strong winds and snow: It’s going to be a wet and wild week for Tasmania.
The Bureau of Meteorology’s Luke Johnston said potentially damaging winds are expected overnight into Wednesday across much of the state.
“We’re likely to see damaging winds, sustained wind speeds of around 60-80km/hr … with winds likely to begin around midnight Wednesday morning and persist to sunrise,” Mr Johnston said.
It's going to be a windy night across #Tas, with DAMAGING NORTH TO NOTHWESTERLY WINDS in the west, south and east. The strongest winds in #Hobart will likely be the early hours of Wed, and about the east coast the winds will last into the afternoon. https://t.co/8cvZh1myxcpic.twitter.com/F2iZRjJ1XF
— Bureau of Meteorology, Tasmania (@BOM_Tas) August 10, 2021
“Winds about the east coast will last a little bit longer; well into the afternoon on Wednesday before gradually the risk area contracts to the northeast of the state.”
Mr Johnston said Tassie was likely to see wind gusts “approach or exceed 100km/hr” but if you’re located on the eastern side of a hill, you’re likely to see sustained wind speeds — not just brief gusts.
“Be prepared for a particularly howling windy night,” he said.
The meteorologist said immediately following the wind, we’ll see a band of rain move over Tasmania — particularly in the north and west.
Totals of 10-30mm of rain is forecast about the north and west, with falls of 30-60 mm likely about higher ground, and isolated falls of more than 80mm possible about the western ranges, Great Western Tiers, and the northeast highlands.
Fine in the SE today and tomorrow, with light showers in the N and W. #Windy on Tuesday night before a #wet Wednesday..... then #snow to around 800m Wed night. Stay up to date with the weather in #Tasmania this week: https://t.co/89tUjpsH2xpic.twitter.com/Bfpskwembi
— Bureau of Meteorology, Tasmania (@BOM_Tas) August 9, 2021
A Flood Watch will be issued later today as catchments are wet and rivers will be responsive to rainfall.
“Mixed in among all this there’s a risk of thunderstorms crossing the north and west of Tasmania during Wednesday morning, and then about the west coast of Tasmania during Wednesday afternoon,” Mr Johnston said.
“There is also a risk of hail with the thunderstorms and the showers coming into Tasmania on Wednesday morning, transitioning to just hail and snow on Wednesday afternoon and evening as a frontal system comes across the state.”
Snow is forecast to fall to around 800 metres late Wednesday and into Thursday morning, and to as low as 500 metres on Friday afternoon.
He said Tassie was also likely to see another burst of wind and snow later in the week — likely to start from Friday.
Soak up the warmth before wild change
FINN Kou knows the water is chillier in winter, but that isn’t going to stop him chasing seagulls and playing in the sand.
The two-year-old spent the mild, sunny Sunday at Long Beach in Sandy Bay.
“I really like sandpits,” he said.
Finn goes to the beach nearly every day in summer, and loves to splash in the water.
Tasmanians can expect more warm weather over the next couple of days, with Hobart predicted to reach 14C on Monday and an above-average August temperature of 17C on Tuesday.
Last year, August’s warmest days on average reached 14.4C, with 22.9C the top temperature at Friendly Beaches.
But Bureau of Meteorology Tasmania senior forecaster Damien Everett said a cold, gusty change was coming.
“Most people like the idea of good drying weather so get the washing done in the next couple of days,” he said.
“A cold front is going to cross the state on Wednesday. That’ll bring some fairly strong and gusty north-westerly winds.
“Showers will be statewide, definitely more frequent around the North and West, 10-20mm and 20-30mm.”
A strong wind warning is in place for the far North-West, South-West and Central West coasts on Monday, and Mr Everett said a damaging wind warning could be in place from Wednesday, but it was too early to tell.
“Leading into spring, traditionally we get a bit of wind coming through in the north-westerlies,” he said.
Mr Everett said riverine flooding could be expected at North and West catchments, and the Huon Valley area.
“Everything’s so saturated it doesn’t take much to tip it over.”
Get the latest weather updates at bom.gov.au/tas
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