Spring snow wonderland for some as Tasmania’s weather pattern settles down

Tasmania can expect more typical spring weather after a dusting of snow on Saturday night. The weather bureau says the system that battered the state has “well and truly moved away”.

Lovely weather for ducks: Waratah blanketed in snow on September 14 2024. Picture: Judi Hunter

Parts of Tasmania woke up to a snowy spring wonderland on Saturday morning as snow fell to around 250 metres overnight.

The Bureau of Meteorology said the vigorous weather system that was impacting Tasmania has “well and truly moved away” and now we are settling into a more typical Spring weather pattern, with the exception of recent above average temperatures.

Senior meteorologist Matthew Thomas said the coldest temperatures were sitting above the state on Saturday morning, with Hobart’s temperature significantly below average for a Spring day at seven degrees, as cold air moved further north as part of a southerly stream over Tasmania.

He said a high riding to the south was dragging cold air up from deep over the Southern Ocean.

“Other than the fact that the air is cold enough that we have seen some snow falling to low levels it’s a fairly typical system,” Mr Thomas said.

Mr Thomas said rain was expected, with Hobart forecast to receive 1-5 millimetres of rain and the Huon Valley 2-10.

He said heavier rain was expected about the West and South coasts, down to the South East Cape.

Waratah resident Judi Hunter was thoroughly enjoying the snowfall after moving to Tasmania from North Queensland a year ago.

Waratah waterfall covered in snow on 14 September 2024. Picture: Judi Hunter

She said she wished she’d moved down sooner, with the snow on her property an added bonus.

“The people are so nice in Tassie and it’s so pretty wherever you go,” she said.

“The snow is an absolute bonus especially right outside without having to drive anywhere.”

Lovely weather for ducks: Waratah blanketed in snow on September 14 2024. Picture: Judi Hunter

He said there were strong wind warning in place over water for Southern Coastal waters and parts of the south east in shore.

He said BOM doesn’t get snow observations, but he had reports of snow to the lowest elevation around the 250 mark, and 350 metres at Allens Rivulet.

Roads including the Highland Lakes Road, the Lyell Highway and Waratah Road had a caution in place for snow on Saturday.

Mr Thomas said despite higher than average temperatures being expected throughout Spring, the weather was a typical pattern for Spring.

“We have had some warmer temperatures at times and we had that very vigorous system that came through right at the end of Winter to the start of Spring- you don’t often see winds of that strength,” Mr Thomas said.

“Since then that has settled down into a more typical pattern for spring, with the exception of temperatures that have been a few degrees above average at times,”