Batten down for wild weather

SNOW levels are receding, but Hobart can expect cloudy conditions to start the week.

Today, showers are expected about the West, South and central areas before contracting to the West and far South by the afternoon.

Fresh and gusty south-westerly winds will ease and tend westerly, according to the Bureau of Meteorology. Hobart is heading for a top of 12C and mostly cloudy conditions.

Strong winds at the weekend left thousands of people without power, with more than 2400 electricity customers still without power last night.

Most of those affected were in the North-West and central North.

TasNetworks had crews working during the night but said it was not possible to restore power in all areas yesterday.

Yesterday’s strongest reported wind gusts were 130km/h at Tasman Island, 117km/h at Hogan Island and Cape Grim, and 104km/h at Cape Bruny.

Winds brought trees down across roads in the North-West, and eight North-West roads remained closed late last night.

A number of roads were also closed in the Central Highlands and North-West due to snow.

Pinnacle Rd to kunanyi/Mt Wellington was closed at Bracken Lane.

Hobart City Council warned sightseers it was a 4km walk to the snow from Bracken Lane.

More snow is forecast on the mountain today and Wednesday.

Rain caused a number of sporting events to be cancelled at the weekend.

Surface water lay on three sections of the Elwick track and with more rain forecast, stewards deemed the track unsafe for thoroughbred racing.

The race meet has been rescheduled for Wednesday.

All Southern Tasmanian Junior Football League matches were also cancelled due to ground conditions.

For information on road closures, see the Tasmania Police website.