Liawenee records second lowest temperature in Australia for 2024 as cold snap hits Tasmania

“It’s coming together now” were the words a ski resort director uttered after a cold snap resulted in record lows in Tasmania for the year so far. Here’s what’s ahead.

Skiers enjoying the slopes at the Ben Lomond Alpine Resort. Picture: Supplied.

It has been an icy cold start to July after temperatures across Tasmania plummeted on the first Tuesday of the month.

Liawenee in the Central Highlands recorded a low of minus 10.8 degrees at 7.33am on July 2, making it the lowest recorded temperature in Tasmania so far this year.

According to Bureau of Meteorology data, though, it missed the top spot nationally for 2024 and had to settle for second place after Thredbo Village in NSW recorded minus 13.0 on the same day.

Tasmanian locations Fingal, Ross, Cressy, Bushy Park, Ouse, Launceston Airport, Tunnack, Kunanyi/Mount Wellington and Wynyard Airport all recorded temperatures below minus three degrees.

The Bureau of Meteorology has issued a road weather alert for the entirety of Tasmania, barring King Island and the Furneaux Group.

The warning is currently in place until Wednesday morning.

Tasmania Police urged drivers to exercise caution on the roads.

“Remember, black ice is often invisible, so if you’re on the roads, please take it slow,” police said.

“Put your headlights on if visibility is poor, leave plenty of space between vehicles, and bey any road closures or warning signs about hazardous conditions.”

Ben Lomond Alpine Resort enjoying Tasmania plummeting temperatures with a cold snap hitting the state for the next week. Weather shot. Picture: Facebook/Ben Lomond Alpine Resort

Ben Lomond Mountain was one of the many locations around the state that recorded subzero temperatures overnight and on Tuesday morning.

The location is popular with skiers, and operators have been using snow-making machines since 2023 to extend the often short Tasmanian skiing season.

On Tuesday, Ben Lomond Alpine Resort Director Ben Mock said he pulled an all-nighter using the snow machines.

“We had some great snow-making conditions last night where we got down to around minus 7.5 degrees, and it was at that pretty much most of the night.

“The last natural snow we had was on Saturday night.”

Mr Mock said this year’s snow season so far had been an improvement on 2023.

“This year, we’re now fully optimising our snow-making system.

“I’ve been standing at the bottom of the ski slope on our summit run going, ‘it’s coming together now’.”

Weather outlook for Wednesday

Hobart: min 3C, max 11C

Mt Wellington: min 4C, max 2C

Launceston: min -4C, max 11C

Devonport: min -2C, max 12C

Burnie: min 1C, max 12C