Glad tidings for Christmas Day

HOBART residents have been given the all-clear to plan for outdoor Christmas festivities, with a partly cloudy top of 23C and only a slight chance of any rain forecast for the big day.

The Bureau of Meteorology’s Anna Forrest yesterday said it would likely be a fine Christmas in the state’s capital.

“There’s a slight chance of a shower around the south of the state, but it’s under a 20 per cent chance of seeing anything in Hobart on Christmas Day,” Ms Forrest said.

“[It will be] mild — particularly compared to what we’re going to see [today] — and probably some increasing cloud during the course of the day. But it’s not going to stop anybody from having their Christmas festivities, either in or outside.”

The Bureau of Meteorology website had some festive fun with its forecast, predicting a “very high (nearly 100%) chance of Christmas” in Hobart on December 25.

Meanwhile, cousins Ieva Priedkalns, Esther Hill and Will Ridder were yesterday enjoying soaking up the sun at Kingston Beach.

Ieva’s father Matthew Aulich said the favourable forecast for Christmas was welcome for the family, which had gathered from interstate and overseas for the occasion.

“It’s very good because we all love to swim and this takes a little bit of the edge off the Arctic waters,’’ he said.

Hobart is today bracing for a hot and mostly sunny 33C day.

A total fire ban is in place for municipalities in the southern region.