Tasmanians can expect a cool and cloudy Christmas Day, with temperatures well below the December average and showers likely for parts of the state, according to the Bureau of Meteorology.
The bureau’s seven-day forecast confirms conditions will be 2 to 6 degrees cooler than usual across most of the state.
A gusty westerly airflow will drive showers across western and southern Tasmania on December 25, the bureau said.
Queenstown will bear the brunt of the wet weather, with forecasters predicting a high chance of showers and a maximum of just 14 degrees.
The bureau said there is a 50% chance the West Coast town will receive at least 4mm of rain.
Hobart will reach a top of 17 degrees under cloudy skies, with westerly winds of 25 to 35km/h and a slight chance of a shower, according to the forecast.
Those hoping for a drier Christmas should head north or east.
Launceston and St Helens are both forecast to reach 20 degrees, with the bureau giving a 90% chance of no rain in either location.
The forecast shows St Helens on the east coast shapes as the pick of the state, with partly cloudy skies expected.
The north-west coast will stay dry but blustery, with forecasters expecting Burnie to cop winds up to 40km/h and a top of 17 degrees.
Scottsdale in the north-east will be cloudy with only a slight shower chance and a maximum of 18 degrees, according to the bureau.
Despite the cooler temperatures, Tasmanians will enjoy long daylight hours, with the sun rising around 5:30am and not setting until close to 9pm.
The bureau has urged residents to keep checking the forecast in the lead-up to Christmas, as conditions may change.
“Stay up to date with the forecast over the coming days via the bureau’s website and the BOM Weather app,” the bureau said.
