Severe weather alerts issued across multiple Aussie states as ‘damaging’ wind gusts reaching 163kmh hit south regions
While “damaging” winds of up to 163 km per hour affected the south of the country, severe weather warnings were issued for many Australian states.
The Bureau of Meteorology has issued a warning for strong winds in Tasmania, Victoria and NSW as a strong cold front moves across Tasmania and towards the mainland.
The bureau’s latest update for Tasmania, published on Friday night, says: “A strong frontal system moved across Tasmania causing widespread damaging winds, particularly with showers and thunderstorms.”
“The risk of damaging winds remains across north-east, central and south-west Tasmania and this will gradually ease by early Saturday.”
It is estimated that the average wind will be around 55-65 km/h and the highest wind will be around 100 km/h.
Gusts are expected to reach 120 kilometers per hour in high and exposed areas of the state.
The strongest wind was recorded on Maatsuyker Island, off the south coast of Tasmania, at 15:00, with a speed of 163 kilometers.
Winds of 139 km/h were recorded at Scotts Peak and 130 km/h at Kunanyi (Mt Wellington).
“(The system) has moved on to the Tasman Sea today but we’re facing the next trough pushing into Tasmania on Saturday morning,” meteorologist Sarah Scully said in the bureau’s video update on Friday afternoon.
“This will lead to another round of showers and cold weather, with snow falling as low as 600 metres.
“But there’s another front on Sunday… showers have increased over Victoria, with some snow even falling on the mountainous parts of Victoria and NSW.”
In Victoria, a similar warning has been issued for people in West and South Gippsland and parts of the Central, East Gippsland, South West, North Central, North East and Wimmera forecast areas.
“As a cold front crosses the state, strong west to northwest winds gradually taper eastward,” the bureau’s warning states.
“Locations that may be affected include Traralgon, Wonthaggi, Sale, Warragul, Falls Creek, Dargo, Mt Baw Baw, Morwell, Moe, Maffra, Mt Hotham and Mt Buller.”
In NSW, Jindabyne, Thredbo, Adaminaby, Perisher Valley, Charlotte Pass and Selwyn are expected to be affected by high winds.
A separate severe weather warning has been issued in Queensland for severe storms expected to bring damaging winds and possible large hailstones.
Locations that may be affected include Goondiwindi, Tambo, Blackall, Augathella and Mantuan Downs.
In South Australia, the warning for the Lower South East forecast area was canceled at 4.47pm.
