Northern parts of Tasmania have seen huge rainfall amounts in the last 48 hours, some places breaking long term records.

In 24 hours to 9am on Thursday, Scamander in the island’s northeast, recorded 278mm making it the wettest day in at least 26 years. Further rain fell to 9am on Friday taking the two day total to 349mm, which is around 7 times the average for the month.

Yolla to the northwest, received 131mm to 9am on Friday making it the wettest January day in 103 years of records. Elsewhere in the north, Burnie picked up 131mm on Thursday and Friday, now making it the wettest January since records began back in 1945.

The reason for all this rain is a deep trough extending from the tropics right down to Tasmania. The trough has been drawing massive amounts of tropical moisture through the country’s interior and into the southeast.

Further rain through the rest of Friday will bring a further 40 to 80mm across the north of the island. A severe weather warning has been issued for flash flooding and damaging winds.

The trough should move to the east of Tasmania overnight taking the heavy rain with it. Westerly component winds will deliver scattered showers over the weekend.

– Weatherzone