A severe weather warning for damaging winds has been issued following a lightning storm that swept across much of Tasmania tonight.
Just after 11pm on Wednesday, the southern half of the state echoed with dozens of intense rumbles of thunder.
The Bureau of Meteorology are now forecasting wind gusts of approximately 100km/h into Thursday morning across the south and Highlands.
“A low to the west of the state is driving strong upper winds which are impacting elevated parts of the state,” cautioned the BOM.
“The low is expected to move to the south east overnight, before moving away from the state during Thursday.”
Damaging wind gusts about elevated peaks above 1,000 metres are expected, with average wind speeds reaching around 40 knots and gusts of up to 60 knots possible overnight.
Areas that may be impacted include Oatlands, New Norfolk, Bothwell, Tarraleah, Geeveston and Huonville.
Forecast for Thursday February 29
Hobart
Cloudy. Winds northerly 15 to 20 km/h turning westerly 20 to 30 km/h in the morning.
Launceston
Partly cloudy. Winds north to northeasterly 15 to 20 km/h turning northwesterly 25 to 35 km/h before dawn then becoming light in the late evening.
Devonport/Burnie
Partly cloudy. Winds northeasterly 15 to 20 km/h shifting westerly 25 to 35 km/h in the morning then decreasing to 15 to 20 km/h in the late evening.
Scottsdale
Partly cloudy. Slight chance of a shower in the morning. Winds northwest to northeasterly 15 to 20 km/h tending west to northwesterly 20 to 30 km/h early in the morning then becoming light in the late evening.
Queenstown
Cloudy. High chance of showers, most likely in the morning and early afternoon. Winds northerly 25 to 30 km/h turning west to northwesterly 20 to 30 km/h before dawn then becoming light in the evening.
St Helens
Mostly sunny. Winds north to northwesterly 15 to 25 km/h tending west to northwesterly early in the morning then tending southeast to southwesterly 15 to 20 km/h in the early afternoon.
