Damaging wild winds set to continue

THE wild weather that battered Tasmania yesterday is likely to continue until this afternoon.

Winds that caused havoc across the state overnight on Saturday were expected to develop late last night and continue until a cold front crosses the state this afternoon.

Weather bureau spokesman Tristan Oakley said snow was expected to 1000m today, but some respite was in sight.

“It all settles down for a few days and then by next weekend it looks like there might be another front going to move across the state,” he said.

Tenants of a Kingston house were lucky to avoid serious injuries after their roof was ripped off about 4.30am yesterday.

Neighbour John Clark said the occupants were fortunate there was no further damage in the “frightening” wind.

“The front big piece [of the roof] was still standing so they moved their four cars out very quickly off the drive,” Mr Clark said.

“They had only just driven down the street when the front fell in down onto the drive.”

Also lucky to escape serious trouble was the crew of the fishing vessel Alladin.

The crew put out a mayday call at 5.30am after the vessel ran aground at Fisher Point near Recherche Bay.

Several police vessels including the PV Cape Wickham were dispatched as well as the Westpac helicopter and the Challenger rescue jet from interstate. The helicopter arrived at 6.10am.

The two crew were uninjured but in need of assistance.

A police vessel arrived soon after and transferred the men from the stricken vessel and took them to Cockle Creek.

The police vessels and helicopter were subjected to heavy seas and 50 knot northerly winds.

The severe weather conditions also caused power outages at Arthurs Lake, Flintstone, Liawenee, Miena, Shannon, Steppes, Tods Corner, Victoria Valley, Waddamana and Wilburville, affecting 749 customers. Last night there were also 190 power outages at Riverside and 49 at Taroona, but most were restored.

Emergency services also had to deal with crashes on the Tasman Bridge and Proctors Rd.