Weather: Rockhampton, Gladstone and Emerald set to have coldest July day as rain and low temperatures continue

The Port City has shivered through its coldest July max temperature on record owing to an ‘unusual combination’ of conditions. Here’s when the gloomy weather is expected to clear.

Central Queenslanders shivered through one of the coldest July days on record as an ‘unusual combination’ of weather conditions caused temperatures to plummet.

On Monday, Gladstone and Rockhampton both recorded their lowest daily maximum temperature for the month of July since recording began, with the temperature reaching 11.9C at 2pm in Gladstone and 12.4C at 10.30am in Rockhampton.

According to data from the Bureau of Meteorology, Rockhampton’s coldest maximum July day on record was on July 16, 1989 when it reached just 13.1C.

The previous record for Gladstone, set on July 17, 1966, saw the lowest maximum temperature reach 12.9C.

While earlier forecasts indicated Gladstone would climb to about 15C, the combination of wind, cloud and rain contributed to the gloomy and cold conditions.

Bureau of Meteorology Meteorologist, Livio Regano said the “unusual combination” was caused by thick cloud coverage despite the presence of southerly winds and an upper level trough (further from the Earth’s surface).

The rain is expected to continue on Tuesday before clearing on Wednesday.

Gladstone recorded 25mm of rainfall in the 24 hours to 9am Tuesday.

The chilly temperatures continued on Tuesday morning, with Gladstone sitting at 12. C about 10.30am.

The thick cloud is expected to clear across Central Queensland on Thursday.

 Rockhampton resident woke to a chilly 10C on Monday, but the temperature didn’t move a whole lot during the day with the forecast predicting a maximum of 13C.

At 2pm Rockhampton was sitting at 12.3C, with a feels like temperature of 11.2C.

Out west in Emerald the temperature was forecast to reach a maximum of 13C, but at 2pm it was about 10.8C degrees feeling like 6.8C.

Unlike Rockhampton and Gladstone, not much rain had fallen in Emerald.

Emerald’s coldest July day on record was 10.8C on July 6 in 1942.

Significant rainfall has also fallen in some areas along the coast.

In the 24 hours to 9am Monday, Brampton Vale near Byfield received a total of 82mm rain, with Yeppoon receiving 38mm and 27mm falling in Rockhampton.

In Gladstone in the 24 hours to 9am on Monday, 25mm had fallen in the area, with Thangool only receiving 7mm.

Further north in the Mackay area, Gooseponds received 58mm while the Mackay Airport recorded 45mm.