Snow, strong winds and large swell for Tasmania this long weekend

09/06/2022

Issued: Thursday 9 June, 2022

A strong cold southwesterly airstream is bringing low-level snow, damaging winds, damaging surf, and below average temperatures to Tasmania this long weekend.

A blast of cold air late Saturday will lower the snow level to around 200 metres for much of Tasmania. This is expected to continue throughout Sunday morning, before the snow level gradually rises to 800 metres at night.

Around Hobart, there is the possibility of snowfalls settling across some of the higher suburbs with snow flurries to lower levels.

The highest snow accumulations are expected for the western, southern and central areas, however the ski slopes at Ben Lomond will also receive further snowfalls.

Damaging southwesterly winds are expected from late Thursday into early Friday, and again over the weekend.

A Severe Weather Warning for Damaging Wind Gusts in excess of 100 km/hr is current for much of Tasmania, with the highest risk areas around the southeast and near the Central Plateau. For the Hobart area, the main risk is from late tonight, then easing before dawn.

The prolonged strong southwesterly winds are generating very large swells and potentially damaging surf is possible along the southern Tasmanian coasts during the weekend - this may lead to localised coastal erosion and damage to coastal infrastructure.

The cold weather is being caused by a large area of low pressure to the southeast of Tasmania and an area of high pressure to the west working together to draw Antarctic air over Tasmania.

This is a rapidly evolving situation. People in affected communities are advised to stay up to date with current warnings and advice via the Bureau's website or the BOM Weather App.

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