Weather News

Northern ski lifts fire up

Snowboarders have built the state's first terrain park for the sport on Ben Lomond. - ABC

Ski lifts have started running on Ben Lomond in Tasmania's north, signalling the start of a late season for snow-goers.

Good snowfall has allowed two lifts to start running and another five are expected to open by the weekend.

If the conditions continue, hundreds are expected to venture up the mountain.

With the season expected to run till only mid-September, a snow-maker with two guns is now being used to supplement the real thing.

Snowboarders are now trying out the state's first terrain park which has been built on the mountain.

Weather forecaster Nicholas Shera says a ridge of warm air has raised temperatures in the state, but they are set to plummet by Thursday.

"The snow-line's basically lifted now because of that ridge so the air has actually warmed quite a lot since yesterday but as that front comes in tomorrow the air will cool once again," he said.

"So the snowline will drop to around 500 metres by Thursday."

Motorists have been warned to continue to drive to conditions, with several roads around the state still affected by snow and ice.


- ABC

© ABC 2012

More breaking news

ABC News
Sydney Morning Herald
National Nine News
News Limited

Flood clean-up reveals communication hurdles

10:43 EST The man-in-charge of the Wide Bay's flood clean-up says a lack of telecommunications is still a concern four months on.