Wild weather causes cancellation of Schools Triathlon at Bellerive

UPDATE: More than 1800 homes lost power after a wild weather system swept the state’s North and North-West.

UPDATED: MORE than 1800 homes were without power on Tuesday night after a wild weather system swept the state’s North and North-West.

Towns hit by the power outage included Deloraine, Elizabeth Town, Railton, Red Hills and Quamby.

The State Emergency Service is encouraging all Tasmanians to prepare for heavy rainfall and thunderstorms.

SES assistant director Leon Smith said homeowners should ensure drains and gutters are clear of debris and running freely.

“While we are preparing to help community members in need of assistance, we would ask people to be prepared themselves for the hazards associated with heavy rainfall and thunderstorms,” he said.

EARLIER: A MAJOR rain event hurtling our way has caused the cancellation of this week’s Schools Triathlon Challenge on Hobart’s Eastern Shore.

More than 4000 junior and senior school children were expected to participate in this year’s two-day event, which was scheduled to start on Thursday.

Triathlon organiser Tim Smith said inclement weather had forced him to postpone the carnival, with new dates yet to be confirmed.

2018 Schools Triathlon Challenge event organiser Tim Smith, pictured under grey skies at Bellerive, has had to postpone the popular event for the first time. Picture: CHRIS KIDD

“It’s forceast to be a major rain event over the next few days and that combined with the southerly wind is enough to make me put a brake on things,” he said.

“There’s really no other option and it’s never happened before.

“There’s never been a forecast like this in the 11 years we’ve been running.”

Mr Smith said his main concern was public safety, with the forecast strong winds putting a dampener on the safe use of 60 or more marquees.

Weather forecaster Michael Conway, from the Bureau of Meterology, said Hobart was expecting strong and gusty winds because of a low-pressure system developing in the South-East of the state.

“There’s not a lot of rain expected on Thursday with 5-10mm, but overnight into Friday Hobart should receive 10-40mm,” he said.

“It’s a wide range at the moment because we’re not exactly sure where the low is going to form.

“There’s possible falls of 50-80mm in the South and South-East.

“There’s an East Coast low forming overnight on Thursday, and depending on where that’s forming there could be really enhanced precipitation and strong winds.”

Mr Smith said there were a lot of unknowns at the moment as to when the event can be rescheduled, but he remains hopeful it can take place sometime in the next few weeks.