FORECAST: Frosty, clear weather makes way for a wet and windy week
The recent clear, cold and frosty days will make way for “a little bit” warmer weather this week – but just keep the umbrella handy. FORECAST + WARNINGS >>
Tasmania
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CHANEL and Harlan Cetaj have rugged up during the school holidays, enjoying old and new winter pursuits such as ice skating, footy and exploring the outdoors.
Harlan, 5, didn’t let the cold stop him from having fun at Mole Creek Caves.
“I wore my thermals, they kept us nice and warm,” he said.
“I also like playing footy in winter.”
Chanel, 8, was looking forward to going to Cradle Mountain to see the snow with her friends.
“We’ve also been to the ice skating rink,” she said.
“It was really slippery but then I actually got a bit better.”
Bureau of Meteorology Tasmania meteorologist Anna Forrest said the frosty and slippery conditions would continue on Monday, but would be replaced by wet weather from Tuesday.
The Bureau has issued a road weather alert for the Upper Derwent Valley during Monday, and a strong wind warning for the South West Coast, far North West Coast and Central West Coast.
Ms Forrest said clouds would cover the northern half of Tasmania while the south would endure frost.
“Both halves of the state could see some fog,” she said.
“A shower or two developing in the north will slowly push its way to the rest of the state over the next couple of days.”
Ms Forrest said the showers, rain and wind this week would “keep things a little bit warmer”.
Hobart was expected to reach maximums between 12C and 14C all week, while Launceston’s top temperatures would reach between 13C and 15C.
“We might even see 16C on the East Coast,” Ms Forrest said.
“It won’t be horribly cold, just wetter, cloudy and not the beautiful clear, blue skies we’ve been seeing the last few days.”
Weather updates bom.gov.au/tas
Road danger as ice catches drivers unaware
DON’T be fooled by sunny skies, a road safety advocate has warned, as black ice and frost turn “the most familiar road into something entirely unfamiliar”.
RACT chief advocacy officer Garry Bailey has reminded Tasmanians to drive to the conditions as Tasmania Police recorded more than 20 crashes between Saturday night and Sunday afternoon, nine of which occurred between midnight and 6am.
“Expect the unexpected by slowing down and exercising 100 per cent concentration,” Mr Bailey said.
“Even when the sun is out, heavily shaded roads may still have ice and frost ready to trap the unwary.”
Mr Bailey encouraged drivers to “carefully weigh” risks to themselves, their passengers and fellow road users.
“Ice, snow and poor visibility will turn the most familiar road into something entirely unfamiliar – even to drivers who believe they have the experience,” he said.
“Slowing down or turning back is not admitting defeat, it’s showing you put safety first.”
Two tragedies this week – the death of a 57-year-old Launceston man who crashed into a tree at Mt Direction on Friday, and a mother and father from interstate who died in a head-on collision in the North-West while on holiday with their children – brought Tasmanian road fatalities to 18 this year.
Tasmania Police received several reports of black ice around the state on the weekend.
Sergeant Nick Cooper said police were busy on Sunday morning with a Murchison Highway crash on Mt Black that completely blocked the road, a three-car collision on the Tasman Highway at Runnymede and an Arthur Highway crash at Murdunna.
“We’ve had a lot of crashes because of the icy roads,” Sergeant Cooper said.
“Just allow extra time to get to destinations and be aware of black ice in the early hours of the morning because you can’t see it.
“Also in poorly lit areas of a night it can be particularly hard to see.”
Other crashes overnight on Saturday and Sunday included three accidents on the Southern Outlet and a rollover at Lachlan.
Bureau of Meteorology Tasmania meteorologist Anna Forrest said icy conditions would continue on Monday.
“We’ll see some frosty, slippery roads,” she said.
“Usually the coldest days happen when there are no clouds and no wind.”
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