Tasmania floods: State on flood watch, thousands without power amid wild weather, cyclonic winds

Tasmanians are being warned to prepare to evacuate their homes as the state continues to be lashed by wild weather.

More than 30,000 people are without power across the entire state, TasNetworks reports, with 117 outages in the state’s north and northwest and 20 in the south.

“We need our customers to be prepared to be without power for extended periods,” TasNetworks told AAP in a statement.

“Especially in the northwest where our crews are dealing with extensive wires and poles down, along with trees on lines.”

Emergency services responded to 330 incidents in the 24 hours to 8.30am on Sunday, with more expected in the coming days amid sever weather warnings.

Multiple flood warnings are current across Tasmania, including a major warning in place for the River Derwent, after weeks of heavy rains.

People in southwest Tasmania — including Meadowbank, Glenora, Bushy Park, Gretna and Macquarie Plains — are being told to prepare for flooding, with authorities suggesting they could become isolated for a number of days.

Residents near New Norfolk have also been warned by the SES to “prepare to leave”.

“Tasmania SES has issued a Flood Watch and Act for communities along the Derwent River .. please prepare now to go to a safer place if conditions become more dangerous,” executive director Mick Lowe said.

“There is potential for properties to be inundated, and roads may not be accessible if flooding in your area occurs, remember, never drive or enter floodwaters.”

Authorities warn properties may become inundated and major roads may need to be closed, as a number already have been.

An evacuation centre is open at Derwent Valley Sports and Recreation Centre in New Norfolk.

Tasmanian Premier Jeremy Rockliff urged residents to “heed the warnings” of authorities.

“We have extremely rare and dangerous winds, rising floodwaters and 1500 Tasmanians without power,” he said.

“Please make informed decisions ... in what could be a very dangerous next 24 hours”.

Keep up to date on state-wide alerts with the TasAlerts website.

Winter blown away in Tas, Victoria, SA

It has been a dangerously windy end to winter for southern Australia, with Tasmania, Victoria and South Australia buffeted by severe winds and gale-force gusts.

Gusts of up to 110km/h are likely in the state, potentially reaching 125km/h in parts.

Gusts over 150km/h — the strength of a category three cyclone — were recorded at Maatsuyker Island, off the state’s south coast, at about 12.30am on Sunday.

As a result, the Spirit of Tasmania cancelled a scheduled trip from Devonport to Geelong on Saturday night.

Passengers were told they could board the vessel and stay onboard overnight then start their journey back to the mainland at 7.30am on Sunday.

The Bureau of Meteorology said damaging winds remain possible across Tasmania on Sunday, with the possibility of redeveloping across the north and west in the evening and into Monday.

Meanwhile, in Queensland

Winter has ended in sizzling style in Queensland, with temperatures nearing 40C in the state’s west.

A top of 34C was forecast in Brisbane, nudging an August record 35.4C, but parts of the city could reach up to 36C.

The state recorded its hottest August day on Friday at Birdsville, near the SA border, reaching a top of 39.7C

August is expected to have been Australia’s warmest on record, with several heat records tumbling in the final week — including that of the hottest winter temperature, which was recorded in Yampi Sound, WA (a 41.6C high on Monday pipped the August 2020 record of 41.2C also set in WA).

- with AAP and Wires.