Snowy blast coming for Tasmania to begin winter

Ben Lomond Alpine Resort are “very confident” there will be fantastic conditions for snow sports when the fields open in a month after a nice dumping of snow this morning. DETAILS + FORECAST>>>

Ben Lomond Alpine Resort managing director Ben Mock said the snow dump had left his team “very confident” there would be fantastic conditions for snow sports when the fields open at the start of July.

“At 7.30 this morning we had nothing – within an hour there was about 5cm and then in the space of 3 hours we had 15 or 20 centimetres,” Mr Mock said.

The resort was excitedly awaiting the arrival of its new snow grooming machine “in the next couple of weeks”, he said.

Ben Lomond Ski Lifts staff Jeanette Elms and Mahalia Smith enjoy the heavy snowfall on Tuesday.

No services are operating on Ben Lomond until June 11, but a live webcam has been added to the Ben Lomond Snow Sports website so enthusiasts can admire the snowfalls from afar.

Snow sports will commence from July 1.

Snow at Cradle Mountain Lodge.

Tasmania Police have announced Cradle Mountain Rd and Belvoir Rd have closed due to reports of heavy snow in the area.

Motorists are asked to consider necessity to travel, use extreme caution, reduce speed and to drive to conditions.

Snowy blast coming for Tasmania

A TEETH-CHATTERING chill is headed towards Tasmania on the back of a strong cold front bringing snow and frost into the state.

Snowfall around the 600 to 700 metre mark is forecast for much of Tasmania this week, heralding wintry conditions from Cradle Mountain to kunanyi.

Kunanyi/Mt Wellington Explorer Bus driver Jonathan Gregory said the splendid views atop the snow-capped pinnacle never got old.

“The beauty of Tasmania is that we don’t have a snow season. It can snow one day and not the other, which is why it’s always so exciting,” Mr Gregory said.

“It’s a really nice experience up there, particularly with the little ones we have on board – it’s an exciting experience for them.”

Ollie Fowler, 1 enjoying the snow on Mt Wellington / kunanyi. Cold weather and snow in Hobart. Picture: Richard Jupe

Great Lake Hotel site manager Jacki Miller the winter season meant frozen water pipes and icy driveways for locals in the Central Highlands.

However Ms Miller said the arrival of snow also heralded the arrival of visitors who came to gawp at the Central Plateau winter wonderland.

“We get a lot of people travelling in from Hobart, Launceston, and all around coming just to see the snow,” Ms Miller said.

“You’d be amazed at how many Tasmanians have never seen the snow before.”

The Bureau of Meteorology said much of the mainland would be met with an icy blast as temperatures plummet in the wake of the cold front.

“Much of southern and eastern Australia is currently being impacted by a strong cold front and associated low pressure system,” a BOM spokesperson said.

“The main impacts will be strong to damaging winds, low-level snow, below-average temperatures, and showers.”

The Ben Lemond summit covered in snow on Tuesday.

Hobart is expected to receive a shower or two on Tuesday. with a top of just 11C.

On Wednesday, the first day of winter, Hobart is expected to see a chilly maximum temperature of only 12 C.

Snow is expected on kunanyi/Mt Wellington with subzero temperatures overnight on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Throughout the rest of the state, the start of winter will see maximum temperatures hovering in the low teens.

Ben Lomond Snow Sports have brought out the snow guns in preparation for the skiing season on June 11.

‘There’s something about jumping into cold water’

For Jan Lepp, the benefits of cold water swimming far outweigh any hesitation she might feel about plunging into the freezing Huon River every morning.

The Dover resident is a member of the Franklin Frosties, a local group of about 15 people who embark on river swims each day at 7.45am.

“The beauty of this place is just extraordinary,” Ms Lepp said. “And there’s something about jumping into cold water.”

“It’s just brilliant for mental health.

At front Melissa Pollard. Back L-R Victoria Preece, Jan Lepp, Vivar Convay, Scott Gordon, Valera Griffin, Lizzie Roarty who are some of the Franklin Frosties. Franklin Frosties cold water swimming group who head in each morning at Franklin at 7.45am year round. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

“There is a mental (barrier) of getting in there (to the river). But we’ve always said we have never regretted a swim.”

Another Franklin Frosties member Lizzie Roarty said that with winter set to begin on Wednesday, she expected to see numbers drop off for the cold water swims.

“Some people disappeared about a month ago,” she laughed.

“There’s usually about five or six people in the winter. In the summer (there’s) more.”

Ms Roarty said the coldest the water had been when the group had done one of its swims was 6C.

Lizzie Roarty and Jan Lepp who swim regularly as members of the Franklin Frosties. Franklin Frosties cold water swimming group who head in each morning at Franklin at 7.45am year round. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

“Outside we’ve had frost on the grass, we’ve had frost on the jetty quite a few times,” she said.

“We’ve already had snow this year.”

Ms Roarty said the Franklin Frosties tended to stay in the water for one minute per degree of water temperature.

When you can expect snow on kunanyi/Mt Wellington

Meteorologists says Hobartians can look forward to seeing snow on kunanyi/Mount Wellington just in time for the first day of winter on June 1.

Bureau of Meteorology forecaster Brooke Oakley said Hobartians should prepare for “puffy jacket weather” this week as the temperatures begin to drop precipitously.

She said by Tuesday the conditions should feel well and truly wintry in Hobart alongside the rest of the state.

Harriet Kemp, 3, enjoying the now up Mount Wellington. Picture : Mireille Merlet

“We’re expecting that on the first day of winter there will be snow on the mountain, which is something that the people of Hobart are always excited about,” Ms Oakley said.

“There’s a low pressure system moving over the mainland on Monday and Tuesday and we’ll see an icy blast for Tasmania for Tuesday as a strong cold south-westerly flow develops.”

By Wednesday, the first day of winter, Hobart can expect to see a chilly maximum temperature of only 10 degrees.

In the rest of Tasmania, the start of winter will see maximum temperatures hover in the low teens.

Snow on kunanyi/ Mount Wellington at Hobart. Picture: Chris Kidd

Wednesday will not be the first snowfall for the year, with one particularly strong flurry of snow delighting hikers on May 18.

Ben Lomond Snow Sports have signalled that the snow season will open for skiers on June 11.

The Ben Lomond mountain has already seen some early coatings of snow in the month leading up to the June long weekend.