The Bureau of Meteorology has warned that severe weather in the form of heavy rainfalls and damaging winds will continue to affect Northern Tasmania tonight.
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The State Emergency Services has advised that while the flash flooding risk to the North has decreased, the risk of damage from high winds has increased.
The SES says that the public should remain vigilant and consider their own safety as a number-one priority.
SES North has activated its Incident Control Centre to help manage the large number of calls for assistance.
SES Regional Manager Mhairi Revie said that to date there had been 300 calls for assistance in the North alone.
She said that while some of the incidents remain outstanding, the SES would continue to work through them in a safe manner.
“Weather conditions such as these hamper our efforts for a timely response and we simply cannot put our people in harms way”, she said.
Ms Mhairi reminded the public that emergency services, councils, and other agencies such as Aurora remain extremely busy dealing the effects of the wind and rain and people should be patient when requesting assistance.
The State Emergency Service advise that people should:
- Supervise all children closely.
- Check that family and neighbours are aware of warnings.
- Manage pets and livestock.
- Where safe - clear drains and gutters on premises prior to severe weather arriving.
- Be prepared in case of power outages.
- Do not walk, ride or drive through flood waters.
- Drive to the conditions
- Beware of damaged trees and power lines and take care when driving.
- Ensure that drains and gutters are clear of debris and are running freely
- Listen to the ABC radio or check www.ses.tas.gov.au for further advice.
- For flood and storm emergency assistance, contact the SES on 132 500.
COUNCIL ALERTS
The Council is advising residents of Hart Street in Newstead to remain on alert for rising floodwaters in the North Esk River in coming hours.
Council officers have been doorknocking the street tonight.
The council said that flows in the North Esk River are expected to peak later tonight at a height of 5m.
In conjunction with emergency services, the council has also closed Henry Street and HOblers Bridge Road.
While the council said it believes it is unlikely that homes in Hart Street will be affected, there is the optential for yards and outbuildings to be inundated.
Council officers will monitor river levels during the night and advise residents of any further flood threats.
NORTHERN POWER OUTAGE UPDATE
Approximately 2000-3000 customers will be off overnight as a result of trees over lines. A number of households remain without power in the Deloraine and Scottsdale areas with pockets of the Launceston area also expected to be without power overnight.
ROAD ALERTS
The following roads are effected by snow fall. The roadway is accessible by 4WD vehicles or vehicles with chains only.
- Mount Arrow Smith on the Lyell Highway at Derwent Bridge.
- Highland Lakes Road, from Golden Valley to Steps.
- Poatina Road from Poatina to Highland Lakes Road
- Marlborough Road from Miena to Lyell Highway.
NORTHERN ROAD CLOSURES
Issued by Tasmania Police at 7.44pm
NORTH:
- Crawfords Road, Exeter
- Rookery Road, Exeter
- Notley Hills Road, Tamar
- South Winkleigh Rd, Glengarry (500 metres from intersection of Glengarry Rd)
- Station Road, St Leonards – near Johnstons Road (flooded)
- Upper Esk Road, Matthina (at the Matthina Cross Roads)
- Matthina Plains Rd, Matthina (after 1st bridge from Upper Esk Rd intersection)
- Lehners Ridge Road, Pyengana
- Ansons Bay Causeway, Ansons Bay
- Sundridge Road, Cressy between Blackwood Creek Road and Poatina Highway
- Blackwood Creek Road, Blackwood Creek
- Saundridge Road, Cressy
- East Tamar Highway to Dalrymple Road, Mount Direction
- Bullocks Hill Road to Dalrymple Road, Mount Direction
- Oppossum Road, Norwood (Near Golf course)
- Opossum Road, King Meadows
- Tamar Crescent, Greens Beach
- Isis Road, Ross (between Macquarie and Auburn Rds)
- Bridgenorth Road, Bridgenorth (from TurkeyFarm Road)
- Tasman Highway, Scottsdale (Scottsdale side of sidling)
- Henry Street, Ravenswood
- Big Hill Road, Lefroy (from Bridport end)
- Bracknell Lane (from Liffey Road to Louisa Street)
- Pitts Lane (no access between Oaks Road and Liffey Road)
- Hobblers Bridge Road, Newstead (from Hart Street to Ravenswood Road)
- Camden Road, Upper Blessington
WEATHER WARNINGS
Marine wind warning for Tasmania
Gale Warning for the following areas:
Frederick Henry Bay and Norfolk Bay, Storm Bay, Channel, Far North West Coast, Central North Coast, Banks Strait and Franklin Sound, East of Flinders Island, Upper East Coast, Lower East Coast and Central West Coast
Flood warning
The following Watches/Warnings are current:
- Major flood warning for the North Esk River Basin
- Moderate flood warning for the South Esk River
- Minor flood warning for the Lower River Derwent
- Minor flood warning for the Huon River
- Minor flood warning for the Macquarie River
- Minor flood warning for the Meandder River Basin
- Minor flood warning for the Mersey River
- Final flood warning for all Northern River Basins
Severe Weather Warning for King Island, Furneaux Islands, North West Coast, Central North, North East, Western, Central Plateau, Midlands, East Coast, Upper Derwent Valley and South East forecast districts
Warning to Sheep Graziers for King Island, North West Coast, Midlands, Central North, Upper Derwent Valley, South East, Furneaux Islands, East Coast and North East forecast districts
Road Weather Alert for Tasmania for North East, Western, Central Plateau, Midlands, East Coast, Upper Derwent Valley and South East forecast districts,
Bush Walkers Weather Alert for Western and Central Plateau forecast districts.
WEATHER FORECASTS
Friday - Launceston
Min. temp: 4. Max: 11
Possible showers. Partly cloudy. The chance of showers in the afternoon. Winds north to northwesterly 25 to 35 km/h shifting southerly 15 to 20 km/h in the middle of the day.
Saturday - Launceston
Min. temp: -2. Max: 12
Early frost. Partly cloudy. Patches of frost early in the morning. Light winds.
Sunday - Launceston
Min temp: -2. Max: 12
Partly cloudy. Patches of morning frost. Light winds becoming north to northwesterly 15 to 20 km/h during the day then becoming light during the evening.