Snow has fallen across across elevated areas of Tasmania this morning, covering sections of the Lyell Highway on the west coast.
Reports from motorists described a substantial snowfall extending across a significant portion of the highland route.
“A good blanket of snow from Mt Arrowsmith to the 14 mile turn off. Derwent Bridge to the Clarence River Snow compacting to ice,” one driver reported.
Newly appointed Labor Leader Josh Willie was among those who encountered the snow during his journey to Queenstown this morning.
“When you’re on the road to Queenstown and it’s snowing… you have to get out and throw some snowballs. How lucky are we to live in such a beautiful place,” Willie said.
The Bureau of Meteorology has forecast ongoing wintry conditions for the island state, with showers currently affecting western, central and southern districts, as well as the Bass Strait Islands.
Snow is falling to elevations around 700 metres, with conditions expected to intensify as a strong cold front and associated low pressure system moves across Tasmania on Friday.
The weather system will bring colder south to southwesterly winds for the weekend, with snow levels expected to drop to around 500 metres late Friday.
Saturday will see even more dramatic conditions with snow potentially falling as low as 300 metres during the morning before lifting to above 1000 metres by the evening.
Fresh and gusty southwesterly winds are also expected to accompany the cold snap.
