Thousands Without Power In Tasmania As Cold And Snow Intensify; South Africa Freezes, Rare Snow Hits Table Mountain; Foot Of Snow Closes Going-To-The-Sun Road; + Climate Science: "An Appalling Scam"

"There are more plants, and crops grow better. So, what's the problem exactly?"

Thousands Without Power In Tasmania As Cold And Snow Intensify

Thousands of homes across Tasmania remain without power, with freezing temperatures and heavy snowfall set to worsen through the weekend.

The BOM says a significant polar front will approach Friday, with two further fronts bringing more of the same Saturday and Sunday. Thermometers have already crashed well-below freezing for many, with the city of Hobart 'feeling like' -14.6C (5.7F).

As of Friday afternoon, over 3,500 properties were still without electricity, primarily in the northern and northwestern regions. At its peak overnight, more than 9,000 properties were affected. Areas like Wynyard, Woolnorth, and Ulverstone have been particularly hard hit, with snow-covered trees falling onto power lines.

TasNetworks has urged residents to prepare for prolonged outages, emphasizing that the extreme cold and snow are making access difficult for repair crews. "We are asking our customers to prepare for long delays as our crews work tirelessly to restore power," a spokesperson said.

Following multiple road incidents, motorists have been advised remain cautious.

Among the disruptions there are also plenty of picturesque scenes. Mount Wellington, for example, has been transformed into a winter wonderland, blanketed in snow since Wednesday. Likewise at Ben Lomand, the ski season typically ends in August here, but this week's heavy late-season powder has led to unexpected extension.

Cabins at Ben Lomond, Tasmania.

Cabins at Ben Lomond, Tasmania.

The BOM warns that the coldest and snowiest weather is still yet to come, with snow expected to fall below 600 meters (1,970 feet) in the state's south over the weekend.

Central Tasmania, including Great Lake and again Ben Lomond, are also expecting additional significant snowfall over the weekend.

According to the BOM, Tasmanians should brace for a weekend of freezing temperatures, heavy snow, and the associated challenges.

South Africa Freezes, Rare Snow Hits Table Mountain

Winter has returned with a bang in South Africa and all, with temperatures down to -9C (15.8F) and snow clipping the peaks.

Table Mountain saw its first snowfall in four years on Wednesday, Aug 28, with flakes last recorded on Aug 29, 2020.