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Five people airlifted from flood waters in Tasmania

The SA weather system brought big rainfall totals to Tasmania's north.

The SA weather system brought big rainfall totals to Tasmania's north. Photo: ABC

Five people including two young children escaped fast-flowing rising floodwaters in southern Tasmania after the state copped widespread torrential rain.

A rescue helicopter was called to the township of Huonville on Friday afternoon, where the group of family and friends was trapped in a boat as they tried to reach higher ground.

“Three adults, two children – they got stuck in an orchard and there was concern for their welfare due to the rising waters,” police Sergeant Damian Bidgood said, adding that no one was injured.

The incident was one of more than 60 spanning Thursday night and Friday, with homes and businesses across the state inundated by water and six vehicles needing retrieval, SES spokesman Brian Edmonds said.

“The local Tasmania Fire Service brigade at Huonville did manage to pull out six vehicles that were stuck or in difficulty in floodwater with no serious danger to life,” he told reporters.

Huonville bore the brunt of flood problems with roads underwater, 17 homes inundated, and one voluntary evacuation.

About 300 residents in South Bruny and Glenorchy experienced power outages as a result of overhead line damage, while several houses were flooded and fallen trees closed numerous roads.

Destructive winds literally ripped up trees and roofs this week. Photo: AAP

Destructive winds literally ripped up trees and roofs this week. Photo: AAP

On Friday afternoon the Bureau of Meteorology cancelled a severe weather warning for Tasmania that had arisen from a passing weakened version of the front that caused flooding in South Australia earlier in the week.

“The immediate threat of severe weather has passed, but the situation will continue to be monitored,” the BoM website said.

In the seven hours to 4pm on Friday up to 65mm of rain was measured at some Tasmanian centres.

Hobart’s Mt Wellington recorded more than 100mm of rain in 24 hours.

Wind speeds in excess of 100km/h were recorded on Friday morning.

A flood watch remains in place for all Tasmanian river basins, with the Huon River expected to peak at about midnight Friday. More rain is forecast for the weekend.

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