After dropping desperately low in March, Tasmanian dam levels have risen steadily since and can look forward to a further boost this week, at least in the west. Since March cold fronts have increased in intensity and frequency, bringing above average rainfall to most of Tasmania's dams, well above average in the west. Most of the state has gained twice as much rain in the past six weeks than it had in the previous 12 weeks. Lake Margaret, about 10 kilometres north of Queenstown, has amassed about 700mm in the past six weeks, including 440mm in the past fortnight. The local dam was nine metres short of filling in March and is now within 1.5 metres of full capacity. With 75-to-150mm of rain likely in the coming seven days it would become the wettest May in 22 years and take the dam to the brink of spilling. Much larger dams, including Lake Gordon, are more needy for further rain. Among the largest in the state, Lake Gordon still has more than 40 metres to reach capacity, eight metres below the level of this time last year. In the relatively-dry-but-recently-wet east, dam levels have only risen gently. In January Hobart's dams were at their lowest level in more than five years and are now only slightly higher. This week a barrage of intense low pressure systems and cold fronts will deliver frequent bursts of rain, bringing over 100mm to parts of the west. This will bring the biggest autumn inflows in many years. Unfortunately for parts of the east, less than 10mm is all that parts of the east can expect. At 82% of capacity, Hobart's dams are still well below the 96% of this time last year and this week should only inch closer to that mark. Together with this week's bursts of rain is damaging wind. Watch out for warnings at http://www.weatherzone.com.au/warnings.jsp?lt=wzstate&lc=tas