It's been an unusually cool start to the summer in Tasmania, and police are warning bushwalkers to be prepared if they intend to venture into the state's alpine areas this week.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Temperatures are forecast to reach no more than 18 degrees in Launceston until Saturday and snow is expected across the state.
The Bureau of Meteorology has issued a severe weather warning for Tasmania until Thursday.
IN OTHER NEWS:
Inspector Darren Hopkins said Tasmania Police was taking the opportunity to warn bushwalkers to be careful if they're planning on braving alpine areas.
"Given several rescues have already taken place this year because some walkers failed to properly plan their trip and take weather conditions into consideration, this is another reminder to do so in an effort to avoid preventable rescues and further risk to life," Inspector Hopkins said.
"Walkers can expect snowfall down to 700 metres [on Monday] and to 500 metres by Wednesday with unusually cold conditions from a minimum of -3 degrees to 4 degrees maximum.
"This combined with south-westerly winds up to 50 kilometres per hour and significant rainfall [is] likely to make any planned walks into our highlands more difficult for anyone not properly equipped and prepared."
BOM climatologist Ian Barnes-Keoghan said westerly winds coming across the state were causing a "cold blast" to hit Tasmania.
"A little bit more rain in the west and less rain in the east seems to be the general pattern for much of summer [in Tasmania]," he said.
"So [it's] not a particularly warm or wet start to summer but it's looking like the summer overall [will] probably [be] warm in the east but continuing [to be] cool and wet in the west."
