Tassie floods as wild weather slams nation’s southeast

Melissa Meehan, Alex Mitchell and Jack Gramenz |

The Spirit of Tasmania cancelled a trip from Devonport to Geelong on Saturday due to powerful winds.
The Spirit of Tasmania cancelled a trip from Devonport to Geelong on Saturday due to powerful winds.

Thousands of Tasmanians remain without power and many are preparing to evacuate their properties as wild winds and heavy rainfall smash the country’s southeast.

A series of destructive cold fronts have slammed the region across the weekend, with the Bureau of Meteorology warning another one is on the way.

Severe weather warnings have also been issued in Victoria, NSW and South Australia, with heavy rainfall, hail and destructive wind gusts up to 130km/h possible.

Tasmania has copped the worst of the severe weather, with flood and damaging wind warnings issued on Sunday for most of the state. 

Emergency Management Minister Felix Ellis said it was a dangerous emergency that was challenging and distressing for the community.

“Tasmania is continuing to experience a severe and protracted weather event that’s having significant effects across our state,” he told reporters.

“We’re seeing damaging winds, significant power outages, and now we’re expecting to see some widespread flooding across parts of our community.”

The bureau said a strong cold front would cross the state late on Sunday and early Monday, mainly impacting the western and northern coasts, with possible wind gusts of more than 125km/h.

Provider TasNetworks said there were more than 150 outages late on Sunday with about 10,000 customers without power.

Flooding in Tasmania
Emergency crews have responded to hundreds of calls for help in Tasmania. (Supplied/AAP PHOTOS)

“Damage is significant around the state, particularly when it comes to wild wind gusts affecting trees, properties, power lines and other infrastructure,” Mr Ellis said. 

“Flooding as it increases will likely impact other parts of the infrastructure system, including road networks and homes.”

A flood emergency evacuation warning is in place for residents near the Derwent River, Meadowbank to Macquarie Plains and Styx River, Bushy Park to Macquarie Plains and surrounds.

Some properties are likely to become isolated and inundated by flood waters.

The River Derwent below Meadowbank Dam was likely to exceed the major flood level of 7.3 metres overnight on Sunday and into Monday.

SES workers
Tasmania has been hit by damaging winds, significant power outages and widespread flooding. (Supplied/AAP PHOTOS)

Major flooding is likely below Meadowbank Dam, with further water level rises possible on Monday, while moderate flooding is likely at Macquarie Plains.

Evacuation centres have opened at the Derwent Valley Sports and Recreation Centre and Memorial Hall in New Norfolk.

Senior Meteorologist Sarah Scully said winds in Victoria, NSW and South Australia could be strong enough to bring down powerlines and trees and could cause property damage.

“Those winds are expected to gradually ease from the west as the cold front tracks eastwards, and it’s in the early hours of (Monday) that the winds about the east coast of NSW will really start to increase,” she said.

Residents in some coastal areas have also been warned large and powerful waves coupled with abnormally high tides on Monday could lead to inundation in some communities.

“We’re expecting seas to peak (Monday) afternoon between seven to nine metres off the west coast of Victoria and Tasmania,” Ms Scully said.

AAP