Tasmania weather: Huon River flood warning, thousands still without power from wind damage

Updated

Thousands of Tasmanians remain without power as emergency services prepare for the possible flooding of the Huon River early on Friday morning due to high rainfalls and melting snow.

Key points: Huon River moderate flood warning issued

2,700 still without power after wind gusts damage power lines

SES warns people to not undertake any unnecessary travel

A moderate flood warning has been issued, with a peak of 4.1 metres expected at 4:00am.

Acting director of the State Emergency Service (SES) Nick Wilson said based on its latest information widespread flooding was not likely.

"No evacuation is likely for Huonville but there may be some localised inundation to a couple of businesses and possibly the Ranelagh caravan park if the flood peak is realised," he said.

More than 2,700 homes and businesses are still without power across the state but the wild weather is easing.

Damaging winds with gusts of up to 150 kilometres per hour hit the state, and the SES is still dealing with dozens of call-outs.

Houses have lost roofs and buildings in Hobart's CBD have been damaged, including the Vodafone building in Bathurst street, which had a 10th floor window frame blown in.

A statement from Vodafone said a large window frame containing six windows blew inwards.

Hobart's Mount Wellington recorded one of the strongest wind gusts, clocking 165kph about 11:30am.

SES regional manager Mark Nelson warned people to avoid unnecessary travel.

"There is a lot of potential for damaged trees, powerlines down, power outages," he said.

"Be aware of dangerous road conditions as well, there's going to be a lot of debris on the roads.

"If you can, just avoid walking and driving out and about because there's just a lot flying around."

The SES repeated warnings to secure outdoor furniture and equipment, after a trampoline landed on a neighbour's roof.

TasNetworks spokeswoman Jacquie Collis did not say when power would be fully restored adding the company had been overwhelmed with calls for help.

"[We were] responding to 1,000 calls an hour yesterday, and we've tripled our staff levels," she said.

Fifty crews were out prioritising larger areas such as Glenorchy and South Hobart, but there was no estimate of when the Tasman Peninsula would be back on line.

Police closed Strickland Avenue in South Hobart between the Cascade Brewery and Huon Road, where a tree was down and winds were damaging homes.

Tasman Mayor Roseanne Heyward said residents and businesses on the Tasman Peninsular were struggling to cope with ongoing power outages.

"The main complaints that I get are the fact that they can't connect, there's no internet, there's no phone," she said.

"Places like the medical centre or the historical site, businesses that rely on power, the cafes of course and restaurants can't open so they lose money. It's a big problem."

Trimming trees could have prevented blackout, resident says

Claire, a resident of Summerleas, located south of Hobart, told 936 ABC Hobart she had been without power overnight.

"We've been out of power since ten o'clock Tuesday night," he said.

"We have tank water and that, which means we've got no water, no power, no internet, no nothing.

Joe from South Hobart said he had been without power for the best part of two days but pre-emptive action could have prevented the blackout.

"You can bet every time there's a weather event we're the first to lose power," he said.

"The reason, there are trees within metres of the lines which fall across the lines and road.

"The fix is simple. Cut or trim the trees. It's called preventative maintenance.

"It'd surely be less expensive than emergency call-outs and the back-pay cheques that we receive

"Would it take a life to be lost before action is taken."

The weather bureau has also issued a flood watch for the south.

Forecaster Alex Melitsis said between 30 and 80 millimetres was expected in the west, with the rainfall flowing into southern river basins.

"With this very strong westerly airstream, we're just seeing moisture being pumped into the west and very heavy shower activity into the west," he said.

Strong winds yesterday caused about $1 million damage at Hobart's showgrounds and a man was trapped after part of a building collapsed in central Hobart.

Topics: storm-event, weather, emergency-planning, tas

First posted