Severe weather warning latest

Severe Weather Warning for damaging winds and abnormally high tides

for people in the King Island, Furneaux Islands, North West Coast, Central North, North East, Western, Central Plateau, Midlands, East Coast, Upper Derwent Valley and South East forecast districts

Issued at 10:53 am EST on Friday 5 July 2013.

Damaging winds for the whole of Tasmania for today, and Abnormally High Tides for southwestern and southeastern Tasmania for this evening.

Weather Situation

An intense low pressure system currently to the southwest of Tasmania will intensify further and pass to the south of the state today. An associated vigorous cold front will cross the state from the west this afternoon.

Damaging westerly winds around 50 km/h with peak gusts of 100 km/h are forecast for the whole of Tasmania today, particularly in the afternoon and evening. Wind gusts could reach 120km/h about the west and the south of the state as the cold front crosses.

Abnormally high tides which may cause sea water flooding of low lying areas are forecast for the South East forecast district and parts of the Western and East Coast forecast districts on Friday evening. High tide will be about 5.00pm at Southport, 5.45pm at Hobart and 7.00pm at Strahan. Tides are currently 40 to 50cm higher than astronomical tide predictions and this is expected to continue today.

In the last 6 hours, wind gusts of 100 to 120km/h have been recorded at coastal stations in the west, and on Flinders Island.

The State Emergency Service and Tasmania Police advise that people should:

• Secure or put away loose items around your house, yard and balcony.
• Keep clear of fallen power lines.
• Don't drive, ride or walk through water flowing over roads and bridges and obey all road closure signs.

For emergency help in floods and storms, ring the SES on 132 500.

The next warning will be issued by 5:00 pm EST Friday.