Source: Bureau of Meteorology

For people in King Island, Furneaux Islands, Western, Upper Derwent Valley, South East, North East, East Coast, North West Coast, Central North, Central Plateau and Midlands Forecast Districts.

Issued at 4:03 am Saturday, 31 August 2024.
LOCALLY DESTRUCTIVE WINDS with a passage of a front early this morning before an even stronger front late today.

Weather situation: A west to northwesterly airstream persists over Tasmania, and will strengthen early this morning ahead of another cold front which will move across the state this morning. Conditions will improve for a period behind the front from mid morning today before another very strong front impacts the state tonight.

DAMAGING WEST TO NORTHWESTERLY WINDS averaging 60 to 70 km/h with peak gusts of around 110 km/h are likely about coastal areas and elevated terrain of western, southern and northern Tasmania and over the King Island. These conditions will spread more broadly across the state early this morning.

LOCALLY DESTRUCTIVE WIND GUSTS in excess of 125 km/h are possible with heavy showers and thunderstorms about the western and northern parts of the state, elevated terrain and over the Furneaux and King Islands early this morning.
From mid morning today winds are expected to ease across most of the state, with a lull in conditions persisting until late this afternoon. Yet another front is then expected to impact the state on Saturday tonight, and is expected to be the strongest weather system in this prolonged period of severe weather, which is likely to continue during periods of Sunday and Monday.

A Coastal Hazard Warning is also current for parts of the western and northern coastlines, as well as for parts of the King Island and Furneaux Islands coastlines. Please refer to http://www.bom.gov.au/tas/warnings/

Locations which may be affected include Devonport, Burnie, Launceston, St Helens,
Swansea, Strahan, New Norfolk and Hobart.

150 km/h wind gust was recorded at Low Rocky Point at 3:30 am
128 km/h wind gust was recorded at Scotts Peak at 2:30 am
120 km/h wind gust was recorded at Cape Grim at 1:30 am

The State Emergency Service advises that people should:
* Supervise children closely.
* Check that family and neighbours are aware of warnings.
* Manage pets and livestock.
* Secure outdoor items including furniture and play equipment.
* Be prepared in case of power outages and report any outages to TasNetworks on 132 004.
* Beware of damaged trees and power lines and take care when driving.
* Listen to the ABC radio or check www.ses.tas.gov.au for further advice.
* For emergency assistance contact the SES on 132500.