Alarm raised as wild weather whips north

I’M LOOKING OUT THE LOUNGE ROOM WINDOW AND THE RAIN IS JUST BOUNCING OFF THE GROUND.

ROBBY WALSH

EMERGENCY services are braced for havoc as widespread rain and thunderstorms batter the state’s northern regions.

Waratah-Wynyard mayor Robby Walsh said the rain had been torrential, with the Bureau of Meteorology recording about 90mm of rain on Friday.

“I’m looking out the lounge room window and the rain is just bouncing off the ground,” he said. “And we’ve had thunder like I’ve never heard before.”

Cr Walsh said his farm was on the edge of the creek that runs into Wynyard, and he could see the water rising.

“The cars on the road are going by very slowly, it’s that heavy that it’s stopped a lot of the traffic.”

He said their land hadn’t dried off all summer. “It’s remained green. It’s been a great year for farmers — not so much for the tourists.”

Lightning in the area also caused a power outage for more than 100 TasNetworks customers.

Heybridge local Jack Horne spent his Friday night in a setting usually saved for the winter — tucked up by his fireplace with a drink in hand.

Living close to the Bass Highway and Bass Strait itself, he said it was the perfect place to watch the waves roll in amid the wild weather.

“[The rain] has been pretty heavy since around noon,” he said. “Roads are slippery with the real risk of cars aquaplaning on the Bass Highway.”

In the Meander Valley, mayor Wayne Johnson said a bit of rain would be good for farmers.

“As long as they don’t get too much,” he said. “There are still poppies and potatoes to be harvested, as well as some cereal crops.”

He said they had received some good rainfalls between 5pm and 8pm of about 25mm, with the region yet to see any flash flooding as of 8.30pm.

In Lindisfarne, three-yearold Maple Stranger didn’t let a bit of rain dampen her fun as she played at the park with her cousins.

Maple’s mum, Bonny, said the kids loved the wet weather. “They love playing in the water,” Ms Stranger said. “They’re water babies.”

Meteorologist Alex Melitsis said the wild weather was mainly contained to the state’s north, however, Hobartians might hear a rumble of thunder and see some short, sharp rain as one of the bands moves over the state.

“The flash flooding warnings should ease early Saturday morning,” he said.

The wild weather is expected to ease by Saturday afternoon.