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Flooding easing in northeast Tasmania

Rain over Tasmania's northeast is now clearing, allowing flooding to ease in the region.

The flooding has generally been confined to river basins after falls of up to 80mm in the past four days caused rivers and streams to rise rapidly.

Mt Victoria, between Launceston and St Helens, has had 37mm since 9am Saturday, its highest 24-hour total in three months. It has now had 78mm all up, its highest four-day total since last August. That was a particularly wet time with a lot of flooding after more than 250mm over four days and more than 500mm over the month.

This recent flooding has been relatively minor without impacting greatly on the more populated areas. Both St Helens and Launceston have picked up about 25mm in four days.

The slow-moving low pressure system which led to this rain will move east of the state today, allowing skies to clear in the northeast and for rain to ease elsewhere in the state. In the past 24 hours the low has taken the heaviest falls to the west, where Smithton gained 30mm and Mt Read more than 60mm, their biggest rain since early autumn.

By Monday morning most of the state will be dry and calm, which will allow fog to form, potentially thick enough to affect travel.

The next lot of rain is due later on Monday as a front moves in from the west. Thankfully for the flood-affected areas, this front will favour the west with showers, while leaving the northeast relatively dry.

Another stronger front is due to bring widespread and heavier showers on Wednesday, again favouring the west but this time bringing a burst to the northeast. It is unlikely to be heavy enough to lead to significant flooding.

- Weatherzone

© Weatherzone 2012

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