Tasmania covered in snow over the first weekend of summer; up to 15 inches deep

Nick Clark and Shaun McManis
news.com.au
Sun, 03 Dec 2017 14:44 UTC

© Lyn Rootes

Lyn Rootes captured the heavy snowfall from her shack at Wilburville in central Tasmania.

Snow has fallen in Tasmania's Highlands as wild weather has stuck the state.

Owners of the hotel posted images on Facebook today after noticing a power problem during the night.

"Nice surprise- just stuck my nose out to see why the power flickered. SNOW now back to bed for me," the post said.

It was still snowing at 7am.

Police have issued a warning to road users after a landslip in the state's South and a deep low pressure system settles in over the state.

On Sunday morning Tasmania Police warned motorists of adverse weather conditions as more than 30mm of rain fell across many areas in the state in the state's South and East.

Hobart airport had received 36.4mm and Mt Wellington had 52mm by 8am.

© Great Lakes Hotel

Snowy weather at the Great Lakes Hotel in the Tasmanian Highlands.

© Great Lakes Hotel

Snowy weather at Great Lakes Hotel in the Tasmanian Highlands.

The rain had led to a small rock slide on Nicholls Rivulet Road, half way between Oyster Cove and Nicholls Rivulet.

"Motorists are asked to drive according to the road conditions, allow a safe distance between other vehicles and take extreme care due to heavy rainfalls, particularly in the East and South East of Tasmania," police said.

Locations which may be particularly affected by rain include St Helens, Swansea,

Bicheno, Orford, Scamander and Dodges Ferry.

The Bureau of Meteorology has issue several warnings including flood warnings in the North and

Other warnings include marine wind warnings, initial minor flood warning for the North Esk River, initial minor flood warning for the South Esk River, flood watch for North Esk and South Esk River basins,

There are severe weather warning for East Coast and parts of South East, North East and Midlands forecast districts.

There's also a warning to sheep graziers for Furneaux Islands, Central North, North East, Midlands, East Coast, Upper Derwent Valley and South East forecast districts and road weather alertsor Tasmania for Central North, North East, Midlands, East Coast and South East forecast districts.

Source: The Mercury

Comment: The following is part of a later report from the same newspaper:

TASMANIA: the northern hemisphere has called, and it wants its weather back.

And it would probably be happily returned after snow, flood warnings, gale force winds and plenty of rain lashed the state just 22 days out from Christmas.

Up to 40cm of snow fell in the Tasmanian Highlands yesterday cutting off inhabitants from power and the outside world.

Further afield, more than 2500 homes had been hit by electricity outages by yesterday afternoon.

The worst-hit areas included: the D'Entrecasteaux Channel, south of Hobart; Rokeby and Sandford on the Eastern Shore; and communities around Fern Tree.

Lack of power wasn't a concern to the snowed-in guests at the Great Lakes Hotel in Miena where owner and operator Kaylee Hattinger was keeping them entertained.

THE pool table was in full swing and stomachs fed via a gas stove when the Mercury called.

"We had four days of plus 25C weather this week, then flooding rains and now snow. We love the highlands," Ms Hattinger said.

"It's a good eight inches out there."