Snow could disrupt traffic on the Midland Highway this week with forecasters warning a cold air system could bring flurries to Tasmania’s main north-south route and higher parts of Hobart.
The last time the highway was closed due to snow was in August 2020, when the stretch between Melton Mowbray and Tunbridge was shut to traffic.
Bureau of Meteorology meteorologist Belinda House said there was a “very real chance” snow could settle on parts of the highway.
“Your highest part of the Midland Highway is almost up to 500 meters and the chances of getting snow to four or five [hundred metres]… there’s a very real chance we could see snow on the Midland Highway,” she told Pulse.
House said the most likely window for the lowest snow levels would be overnight Wednesday and into Thursday, as bursts of cold air move across the state.
She said some computer models have suggested snow could fall below 400 metres, with a colleague raising the prospect of snow as low as 200 metres, although House said forecasts were not yet showing a consistent picture.
Higher suburbs of Hobart could also see snow flurries, with areas including Fern Tree and potentially Mount Nelson in the firing line.
House said the bureau would need to wait and see how cold the incoming air mass becomes.
“The chances seem reasonable of seeing snow down to 400-500 metres, which means your Midland Highway … and your elevated suburbs of Hobart might get some flurries,” she said.
“There’s a chance it could get lower than that, but we’ll just see how cold the air is that’s coming up.”
