Hot Hobart burns off interstate cities

(... just don’t mention it will be 17C and raining tomorrow)

IT’S not a claim Hobart can make too often, but the capital could boast warmer temperatures than our traditionally hot interstate counterparts Brisbane, Cairns and Perth for much of yesterday.

Bureau of Meteorology data showed that in Hobart, the mercury peaked at 29.8C at 3.16pm while Bushy Park, Grove and Hobart airport all cracked 30C.

Brisbane managed a maximum of “just” 26.5C, Cairns 29.7C and Perth 27.6C.

Enjoying the mainland-like weather yesterday were Launceston’s Charlotte White and Jay Medwin, who took a dip at Sandy Bay’s Long Beach along with many locals.

The warmer trend continues today with a top of 30C predicted and a possible thunderstorm in the afternoon and early evening.

There is also a high chance of showers and a sharp decline in temperature tomorrow with a maximum of only 17C.

Hot weather often means bushfires and a blaze was yesterday burning near Waratah on Tasmania’s West Coast.

The Tasmania Fire Service alerted the community to the fire at Romney Marsh, Guildford, just after 3.30pm, with motorists on the Murchison Highway urged to take caution north of Belvoir Rd.

The TFS said there was no threat to communities but smoke and ash might impact the surrounding areas. Fuel reduction burns were taking place at Greens Beach, Weymouth and Sandford, with a similar burn at Port Sorell now under control.

The Parks and Wildlife Service has issued specific bans on campfires in parks on the East Coast. The TFS has also extended the fire permit period for the northern Tasmanian areas of Flinders Island, George Town and Launceston.

The extension was the result of low rainfall and dry spells on the East Coast, the North and North- East coastal areas and the Flinders Island group.

Landowners who want to do a burn-off now need a fire permit.