Snow falls at Mt Mawson near firefighters battling Tasmanian bushfires

Snow has fallen at Mt Mawson overnight as firefighters battle a large bushfire just a few kilometres away.

SNOW has fallen at Mt Mawson overnight as firefighters battle a large bushfire just a few kilometres away.

Enough snow fell to cover the ground at the summit at the top of the Mawson run and the public shelter at the Mt Mawson base camp. The mountain sits within the Mt Field National Park in southern Tasmania.

Snow at the Mt Mawson summit in Mt Field National Park about 8pm yesterday. Picture: MT MAWSON SUMMIT CAM

Bureau of Meteorology senior meteorologist Rachel McInerney said it was forecast to snow down to 800m in the area, but it would likely be washed away as rain started to fall later in the morning.

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Early this morning, Mt Wellington’s Pinnacle Rd was closed at The Springs because of ice. It re-opened just before 8.30am.

Snow down to 800m and hail has also been forecast for the Central Plateau, where fire crews are battling an out-of-control blaze which has so far burnt 55,000ha.

Tasmania Fire Service Great Pine Tier fire planning officer Alex Bradley said the wetter conditions over the weekend would make firefighting difficult.

Snow at the Mt Mawson public shelter in Mt Field National Park about 7am today. Picture: MT MAWSON BASE CAM #2

“We’re conscious of the safety of some of the crews,” he said.

“A lot of crews are working 1000m above sea level and with some of the weather we’re seeing it’s proved difficult to conduct our operations.”

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