Snowy roads re-open
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Updated
Snow fell around Collinsvale, in southern Tasmania this morning. (ABC News: David Hudspeth)
Some major roads across Tasmania have been re-opened to traffic after earlier being closed because of snow.
The Murchison Highway between Fingerpost and Tullah has re-opened to all traffic but caution is required.
The Cradle Mountain Link Road has re-opened from the Murchison Highway for four-wheel drives only.
The Lyell Highway between Ouse and Derwent Bridge is off limits to motorists, but the section between Queenstown and Derwent bridge is passable with caution.
Police are also urging extreme caution on the Midland Highway, especially at Constitution Hill, Spring Hill and St Peters Pass
The Tasman Highway at 'Bust Me Gall' Hill has also re-opened.
The snow has covered some parts of Tasmania that don't usually get it.
While snow cover was generally down to the 600 metre level , it has fallen to 300 metres in the south and on the east coast.
In 2006 snow fell to sea level in southern parts of the state, including Kingston Beach south of Hobart
A senior forecaster with the Weather Bureau, Barry Becker, says today's falls have been unusual.
"Like in the south of the state in particular and up the east coast, we've has reports of snow down to three or 400 metres especially on south facing slopes," he said.
"Because the winds did tend to be quite cold southerly for a period this morning."
Mr Becker says it is the result of a low pressure system moving to the south-east.
"It was quite moist as well so bringing lots of precipitation which fell as snow down to around the 600 metres over other parts of the state but in the south it was lower."
