Coldest Hobart November night in 68 years
Hobart has shivered through its coldest November night in almost 70 years as a cold blast brought late spring snow to low levels across Tasmania.
According to preliminary figures, the island state capital dipped to 2.9C just after 5.30am on Monday – the city’s coldest November temperature since 1953.
“Snow has fallen all the way up to the Central Plateau, over the northeast high ground and through western and southern parts of the state,” Bureau of Meteorology forecaster Belinda House said.
Mt Wellington, also known by its Indigenous name Kunanyi, was dusted with snow.
There were substantial falls south of the city in the Huon Valley and reports of snow down to sea level on the Tasman Peninsula in the southeast.
Ms House said snow flurries occurred lower than 200 metres on Monday morning.
“We’ve had reports about Hobart’s higher suburbs – about 200 and 300 metres – of snow settling to those elevations,” she said.
“We’ve got a very strong cold front that has pushed across the state. We’re seeing this cold southwesterly blast.”
Ms House said late spring and summer snow was unusual but not unprecedented in Tasmania.
“We know spring in Tasmania can bring a mix of warmer weather and these colder winter outbreaks.”
A bushwalker weather alert was in place on Monday for the Central Plateau and western districts.
