Snow falls to 150 metres in Tasmania amid chilly start to spring
Enjoying the snow at Vinces Saddle on the Huon Highway. (ABC News: Owain Stia-James)
In short:
Snow settled to 150 metres above sea level in some parts of Tasmania overnight on Thursday.
A southern Tasmanian primary school cancelled its school bus and learn to swim lesson on Friday, advising parents only to drive their children to school if it was safe to do so.
What's next?
The cold snap won't last long, with maximum temperatures expected to reach 19 to 20C in the state's north and south for Father's Day on Sunday.
The first week of spring has had a white backdrop, with snow settling as low as 150 metres above sea level in some parts of Tasmania overnight.
"The snow level was lowest overnight [Thursday]," Matthew Thomas from the Bureau of Meteorology told ABC Radio Hobart.
"It snowed at my place at 360 metres, I've heard of snow falls at Leslie Vale and I've seen some pictures of some snow falling but not settling at Bagdad at about 150 metres."
Mr Thomas said the lowest snow he was aware of settled at 300 metres.
Hartz Road in the Huon Valley on Friday morning. (Supplied: Darren Wright Photos)
Vinces Saddle on the Huon Highway south of Hobart was blanketed in snow. (ABC News: Daniel Miller)
Devils At Cradle keeper Rory Burton said the Tasmanian devils were running around in the snow and "absolutely loving life".
"They have quite a thick fat layer and a very quick metabolism to keep themselves warm from the inside out."
He said that while the devils were embracing the cold snap, the eastern spotted quolls were more likely to be "tucked in bed".
"They've got the advantage of not being as assertive towards each other, so they curl up and cuddle a little bit more than the devils do."
Eastern spotted quolls snuggling for warmth at Devils @ Cradle. (Facebook: Devils at Cradle)
Vinces Saddle, on the Huon Highway, was blanketed in snow on Friday morning, with cars stopping by the roadside and people getting out to take photos.
For people in Hobart, Kunanyi/Mount Wellington was a snowy sight for a second day after fresh snowfalls overnight.
Kunanyi/Mount Wellington was covered in snow for the second morning in a row. (ABC News: Loretta Lohberger)
From the top, looking down. (Supplied: Adrian Bol)
Hobart City Council's Kunanyi/Mount Wellington crew members were doing a regular Pinnacle Road safety check when they discovered a "huge rock" had fallen.
The council said work was underway to remove the rock, but the icy conditions were "proving challenging".
Anyone eager to visit the mountain is urged to check the status of Pinnacle Road.
The rock fell on Pinnacle Road, just above the chalet. (Facebook: City of Hobart)
Hobartians woke to a snow-covered mountain on Friday morning. (ABC News: Loretta Lohberger)
Collinsvale Primary School, in the hills above Glenorchy, advised on social media its school bus run and learn to swim program were cancelled for the day.
The school remained open, but advised parents to drive children to school only "if it is safe to do so".
Snow at Sandfly on Friday morning. (Supplied: Cassie Leah)
Hobart can expect a maximum temperature of 13 degrees Celsius on Friday, which Mr Thomas said was "several degrees below average".
It is also expected to reach 13C in Burnie, and 14C in Devonport and Launceston.
The view of Collins Bonnet from Mountain River in southern Tasmania. (Supplied: Kathleen Brient )
Some warmer weather is on the way, however.
After a cold start to Saturday morning, with frosts expected in some areas, Mr Thomas said winds would shift northerly during the day.
On Sunday for Father's Day, maximum temperatures are expected to be 16C in Burnie and Devonport, 19C in Launceston and 20C in Hobart.
Spring has started with snowfalls in Tasmania. (ABC News: Owain Stia-James)
Snow settled to about 300 metres above sea level in parts of Tasmania. (ABC News: Daniel Miller)