First major snowfall in almost 30 years.
- Many roads cut and schools closed
- Havoc on Tasmanian roads
- One person dead after two-vehicle smash
- Police warning drivers of the hazards of snow and ice
- Snow still falling in the northern, western and southern parts of the country
- More snow expected
A cold front brought heavy falls to the south of the state early Monday morning, including Hobart.
Snowfalls in Hobart are rare — the last time the CBD experienced a “dump of snow” was on July 25, 1986 when the Tasman Bridge was closed.
Weather Zone meteorologist Brett Dutschke said the snow had fallen as low as sea level on some of the beaches around Hobart.
“It’s very cold air that’s travelled up from Antarctica and it’s been moving up with an intense cold front,” he said.
It is the first time snow has reached sea level in Hobart since 2005.
Launceston in the state’s north saw snow, as did Burnie in the north-west.
Bureau of Meteorology spokesman Tristan Oakley said the state’s west, where snow had also reached sea level, “could be quite bad for most of the day, into the evening”.
John Bally from the Bureau of Meteorology warned very low temperatures overnight would make roads icy.
Inspector Williams said another cold front was expected early on Wednesday morning.
“We are looking at the snow line dropping down again tomorrow night into Wednesday morning as showers extend once again state-wide.”
Bush walkers are advised that snow to near sea level is expected during Monday morning, with the snow level expected to rise to around 500 metres by the evening. These hazardous conditions are expected to occur in the Western and Central Plateau districts.
See photos:
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-08-03/snow-across-tasmania-forces-many-key-road-closures/6666838
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/nation/snow-blankets-hobart-causing-havoc-on-tasmanian-roads/story-e6frg6nf-1227467421452
http://www.9news.com.au/national/2015/08/03/09/51/hobart-wakes-to-best-snowfall-in-almost-30-years
Thanks to Argiris Diamantis, Cameron Dale, Tango, Lyn Roberts and Twawki for these links
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