Tasmanian weather: Damaging winds lash the state, clearing for Easter long weekend

Strong winds have lashed parts of Tasmania ranging as strong as category two cyclones. But the state is shaping up for perfect weather over the Easter long weekend. Forecast >>

Aditi Shahi and Shyam Maharjan of Sydney at the kunanyi/ Mount Wellington summit. Picture: Chris Kidd

Strong winds lashed parts of Tasmania on Monday morning, with the strongest the equivalent of a category two cyclone.

Kunanyi/Mt Wellington experienced 133km/h gusts in the early hours of Monday morning, with other elevated areas recording strong winds.

“There was 119 km/h at Hartz Mountain and 119 km/h at Scotts Peak, but Hobart was probably the most populated area to receive decent gusts and that was only 80km/h which pushed into Wynyard in the North-West,” Bureau of Meteorology senior meteorologist Matthew Thomas said.

The cold windy weather on top of kunanyi/Mt Wellington was quite the shock for Sydney couple Shyam Maharjan and Aditi Shahi, who were holidaying in Hobart.

“It’s pretty cold compared to Sydney, very unexpected,” Mr Maharjan said.

“It’s fairly clear on the lookout but its just so windy.”

kunanyi/ Mount Wellington summit. Picture: Chris Kidd

A severe weather warning which issued on Monday morning was cancelled in the afternoon as winds started to ease.

“We’ve got a high pressure system that’s currently over the bight and that’s helping to contribute to the fairly tight pressure gradient over Tasmania at the moment,” Mr Thomas said.

“But in the coming days, that high will just slowly start to move closer to Tasmania, moving over the state through late Wednesday into Thursday, and then moving out to the East by Friday.”

Just in time for the Easter bilby, conditions will improve for the Easter long weekend with temperatures predicted to be slightly above average.

“The sun will come out a little bit more, certainty across the Friday, Saturday into Sunday, although we will on Sunday another front approach, and that will cross Tasmania early on Monday,” Mr Thomas said.

“But it’s looking at the moment like a pretty nice weekend for the long weekend.”

kunanyi/ Mount Wellington summit. Picture: Chris Kidd

Easter Forecast

It will be a cloudy 20C for Hobart on Tuesday to Thursday, before a sunny 22C on Easter Friday and Easter Saturday. Easter Sunday will be partly cloudy and 25C.

Launceston will have a partly cloudy week with a top of 24C from Wednesday until Thursday, slightly warming over the Easter weekend, with 25C on Friday, 26C on Saturday and 27C Sunday.

In the state’s West, Strahan will have showers and a top of 18C on Tuesday and Wednesday, before clearing to a partly cloudy 20C Thursday. Easter Friday will be mostly sunny and a top of 22C, with a sunny 24C on Easter Saturday and a shower or two on Easter Sunday.

To the East, Swansea will be partly cloudy with a top of 21C from Tuesday until Thursday. The sun will be shining on Easter Friday and Saturday with a top of 23C. Easter Sunday will be partly cloudy and 25C.