TRANSCRIPT:
Queensland might be sweltering through the last day of an unseasonably warm winter, but in Tasmania, it's a different story.
Severe winds and flooding are causing headaches.
Tasmanian Premier Jeremy Rockliff says the impact of the weather on schools is still uncertain.
"At this stage, it's not anticipated that there'll be any widespread school closures, and we expect schools to be open tomorrow. There may be some individual circumstances, depending on damages to school power outages, and indeed bus school, bus transport, routes that have been disrupted, that may impact on school closures, but we expect to have that information out as soon as possible."
These residents at a caravan park have decided to evacuate.
VOXIE: "It is traumatic, where did I put this, where did I put that, where is my tablets, where is my toothbrush."
More than 200 millimetres of rain has fallen across the island in the past week, triggering 20 flood alerts.
Evacuation orders have been issued for a number of towns along the south-east Derwent River region, because of the flooding risk.
The S-E-S has been kept busy with emergency callouts, hundreds of calls coming in over the last 24 hours.
Tasmania's S-E-S Executive Director Mick Lowe says they are also trying to reach as many people as possible to warn them of the looming threat.
"There's a lot of isolated residents right through that area. We've been doing proactive door-knocking through the morning to make sure people are aware of the danger that is coming. And hopefully that situates people so they can make good, informed decisions and not be there when potential flood waters and inundation comes in."
The Premier says emergency assistance is already in place for those affected by the floods.
"We've also got our emergency assistance grants for individuals that are now available in affected areas, particularly the Derwent Valley and those that are isolated by floods, central Highlands and the Derwent Valley. Grants of up to $250 for individuals and $1,000 for families that are affected."]]
But it's not just flooding that residents and the authorities have been concerned about.
Wind gusts in excess of 100 kilometres per hour have hit many areas.
That includes Matsuka Island in the state's south, hit by gusts equivalent to a category three tropical cyclone.
Alex Melitsis from the Bureau of Meteorology says it's unprecedented weather.
"Tasmanians are used to strong winds at this time of year. But these have been particularly rare, particularly the ones last night where we did see some of those records break at some stations in terms of the wind gusts."
The wind has knocked out power to a number of homes, with power lines either knocked down or into water.
An estimated 30,000 properties are currently without electricity - and Alex Melitsis says the situation could get even worse.
"This evening we will see those strong winds redevelop across parts of the north and the west and we may even see some destructive wind gusts across the west coast and parts of the north coast and north east elevated areas. That is most likely to be this evening and overnight tonight with winds easing tomorrow morning. Luckily parts of the south east, including Hobart are out of the warning area for tonight, so really the main risk s into the north and the west."
Michelle Doukalas from Derwent Valley Council says the situation remains dynamic - but they are prepared for the river to reach its high peak.
"Council has modelled this scenario before and we're just going through the actions to make sure everyone is safe and prepared."
