Tasmanian farmers and graziers in flood-affected areas are being advised to move stock and agricultural equipment to higher ground.
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Earlier this afternoon, reports were made that two elderly people have been reported missing after bring swept away by floodwaters (stroy via The Examiner).
The Bureau of Meteorology has issued severe weather alerts for Northern Tasmania, including for flash flooding, damaging wind gusts, and the likelihood of trees falling due to sodden ground.
There are extensive road closures in the flood-affected parts of Northern Tasmania.
As of 12.20pm, there are now major flood warnings for six rivers in the island state.
The Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) has advised there are major warnings for the Derwent, Forth, Meander, Mersey, North Esk, and South Esk rivers.
Several houses in the East Launceston area are inundated, as the state battles a major flood event.
Media reports have called the flooding the state's worst in 92 years.
On Monday morning, BoM released the following statement:
"Exceptionally heavy rain has fallen across northern Tasmania over the past 36 hours. Many locations are likely to break daily rainfall records in the 24 hours to 9am.
Amongst the higher totals in the 24 hours to 9am today are: Fisher River 276mm, Yolla 248mm, Lake Gwendy 238mm, Lake MacKenzie 237mm, Iris River 229mm, Lake Gairdner Dam 219mm, Sheffield 216mm, Pyengana 211mm.
At least 34 other locations about the north of the state and the Central Plateau have reported between 100 and 200mm in the 24 hours to 9am today.
Some notable 24 hour rainfalls to 9am today in bigger population centres are Wynyard 128mm, Ulverstone 113mm, Burnie 112mm, Latrobe 104mm, Devonport 88mm.
The heavy rain has led to Major Flooding on the Mersey, Forth, North and South Esk Rivers, and Major Flooding is expected on the Meander. Moderate or minor flooding has occurred on the Macquarie River and the River Derwent.Some of the river levels are approaching record levels.
Rain and winds have eased about the northwest and central north.
Heavy rain is likely to continue about the northeast and extend to the east coast and parts of the southeast. A significant easing in rainfall is not expected until Tuesday.
There is also a warning for damaging surf on the state’s East Coast (from the northern tip of Flinders Island to Tasman Island), which are likely to cause coastal erosion and local inundation flooding.
More than 40 sites around Northern Tasmania have recorded between 100 and 200 millimetres of rain in 24 hours.
The City of Launceston council has opened the Albert Hall in Launceston as an evacuation centre.
The North Esk River is expected to set a new record for its highest flood peak.
The catchment has received about 128 millimetres of rain since 9am on Sunday, with further rain expected throughout Monday and into early Tuesday.
For rolling coverage, visit The Examiner’s site here.
