Qld weather: Bureau issues warning ahead of freezing end to the week
Queensland’s big freeze is persisting, with subzero temperatures over the next few days expected to see frost as far north as Mackay. LATEST TEMPERATURES
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Subzero temperatures are forecast for large parts of Queensland over the next three days, with widespread frost expected as far north as Mackay.
Temperatures dropped below 0C in centres across the state on Wednesday morning, with the apparent temperature in many locations even colder.
Charleville got off to a chilly start this morning, with the mercury sitting at -0.3C, although it felt like -2.7C, according to the weather bureau.
In Applethorpe in was 0.6C at 5am, but it felt like -2.3C, while Blackall was sitting at 0.3C at 5am, but the apparent temperature was a freezing -3.6C.
It was 8.4C at Coolangatta on the Gold Coast but felt like 5.8C, while on the Sunshine Coast, the temperature dropped to 5.8C at 5.10am, with the apparent temperature sitting at 3.1C.
Meanwhile, Brisbane City - which was covered in fog early on Wednesday morning - was sitting at 9.8C just after 5am, but it felt like 8.6C.
The fog had drifted down from the Brisbane Valley, with a BOM satellite view showing just how “widespread” across the South East it was.
While Brisbane City was relatively clear by about 7am, the fog took longer to shift in the Lockyer Valley and in Logan.
Bureau of Meteorology Senior Forecaster Felim Hanniffy said far-reaching frosts were forecast over the next few days, brought on by “extensive subzero temperatures” across the state’s interior.
The state’s coldest day is expected to be Friday.
“Stanthorpe will see around -3C or -4C as their minimum on Friday morning, but those colder temperatures will be felt right the way up through the Granite Belt and then it’ll still be pretty cold up in the central parts of Queensland,” Mr Hanniffy said.
“Frost will be likely as far up as the Clarke Range, so we’re talking about as far as up near Mackay.”
BOM has predicted a slight chance of snow for the Granite Belt on Wednesday morning as clearing showers were pushed from the region but as of 7.15am there were no reports of snowfall.
Tuesday’s rainy conditions were expected to clear throughout Tuesday night and into Wednesday morning, moved out to sea by a strong – and cold – south-westerly wind.
The Bureau has issued a cold weather warning to sheep graziers on the Darling Downs, flagging the risk of losses of lambs and sheep exposed to the cold and wet conditions on Tuesday night and into Wednesday.
Mr Hanniffy said that the winds could reach 70km/h by the time they reach Brisbane’s outer suburbs on Friday morning, a major contributor to the chilly conditions forecast.
“The Brisbane Valley funnels those winds and it will bring a wind chill, so the maximums of around 20C will feel more like the mid-to-low teens,” Mr Hanniffy said.
But on Wednesday morning, meteorologist Helen Reid said a “warming trend” should help to thaw out parts of the southeast by the weekend.
“Brisbane’s day time temperatures will be back up to 20C by Friday with minimum temperatures set to drop to 7 or 8C.”
Ms Reid said parts of the Granite Belt, Darling Downs, Maranoa and Warrego will also start to warm up over the next few days.
“We have had a trough move through southern parts of Queensland yesterday (Tuesday) and now behind that we do have a very cold south-westerly airstream bringing in that cold air from a long way south,” she said.
“As the days progress through the week we will see that those southerly cold winds ease off.”
Meanwhile, BOM observations and climate model outlooks suggest there is a 50 per cent chance La Nina could reform by late 2022.
BOM meteorologist Helen Reid said four of the seven models suggest a third La Nina could form by late Spring which is approximately “double the normal likelihood”.
While back-to-back La Nina events are not uncommon, and have occurred in approximately half of all past events since 1900, three in a row is less common and has only occurred three times since 1900: 1954 to 57, 1973 to 76, and 1998 to 2001.
La Nina events increase the chance of above average rainfall.
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