Winter Wonderland: One year on from Launceston’s snow day

A year ago today Launceston residents woke to a winter wonderland. The Mercury takes a look back at how locals took advantage of the special weather event. PHOTOS >>

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A YEAR AGO today Launceston residents woke to see the city blanketed in snow.

Locals took to the streets making snowmen and having snow ball fights, others taking up the opportunity to snowboard in the city.

The last time there was reports of snow settling in Lausnceston was about 40 years ago.

The rare weather event saw a number schools close and several suburbs were without power.

Locals also banded together to clear roads and footpaths.

Snow in Launceston. Picture: PATRICK GEE

The Bureau of Metrology had reports about 20cm of snow on the ground at Scottsdale and 50cm at Great Lake.

Last year the temperatures dropped to a low of -0.1C at 9pm in Launceston on August 4, with winds peaking at 41km/h at 2am on August 5.

Snow and cold weather in Tasmania, August 2020. Snowy streets in Launceston Snow in Tasmania. Picture: Kirsty Wright

Snow and cold weather in Tasmania, August 2020. Snowy streets in Launceston Snow in Tasmania. Picture: Kirsty Wright

12 months on and conditions were much more mild for the northern city.

BoM meteorologist Deb Tabor said it would be a cloudy day in Launceston with light north westerly winds increasing a little in the middle of the day.

“Overnight there was a low of 2.6C with a top of 15C expected,” she said.

Snow in Launceston. Picture: PATRICK GEE

For those chasing the snow it’s forecast to reach 700m on the south coast on Saturday, with the potential of light snow at 800-900m on kunanyi/Mt Wellington on Saturday night.

“When there’s snow in Tasmania there’s usually a cold front and a south-south westerly stream,

“There’s also got be enough precipitation for it to snow, without the precipitation it won’t snow,” Ms Tabor said.