Snow possible for Qld as state braces for record-breaking cold snap

Temperatures have plunged across Queensland this morning, with people in some parts of the start waking up to apparent temperatures of -5C.

Nilsson Jones, Jessica Gee and Madison Mifsud-Ure

3 min read

June 10, 2021 - 8:58AM

Craving cosy nights? It might not be cold enough this winter

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Parts of Queensland have woken to freezing temperatures this morning, and while there’s still a chance of snow, weather buffs have been warned they may need to head across the border to find the white stuff.

Wellcamp, near Toowoomba, was the chilliest spot in southern Queensland early this morning, with the mercury dropping to -2.4C at 5.40am. But the apparent temperature was -5.6C.

Also on the Darling Downs, it was .3C at Oakey, with an apparent temperature of -4.2C, and 3.4C at Dalby, but felt like -2.2.

It was 2C at Applethorpe, but felt like -2.1.

Freezing winter storms had been predicted to sweep in to the state, bringing low temperatures, rain and strong wind.

A polar blast is making its way across NSW and Victoria into Queensland. Picture: Windy

Temperatures up to 8C below the June average were predicted for overnight Wednesday in the midst of the cold snap, with the lowest figures expected around the Granite Belt region.

Meteorologist Jonty Hall this morning said there would be pretty bleak conditions on the Granite Belt and parts of the Darling Downs.

Forecaster Jonty Hall this morning said that while there would be pretty bleak conditions on the Granite Belt and parts of the Darling Downs today, even with temperatures warmer than expected.

The 'Big Thermometer' in Stanthorpe sitting at just 2C on Thursday morning. Picture: Madison Mifsud-Ure

Mr Hall said that “today is the day” if snow was to fall, with possible cloud cover and any temperatures below 4C keeping the possibility alive.

But he said people who wanted to see decent falls should head south of the border.

“Those high points in the Southern Downs too could see a bit of snow too, places such as Eukey, south of Stanthorpe, as an example,” he said.

But conditions may end up being too dry.

“You need moisture in the air, a decent bit of cloud cover, and rain certainly helps too,” he said.

Quart Pot Creek in Stanthorpe looks beautiful albeit chilly on Thursday morning. Picture: Madison Mifsud-Ure

Other regions are recording lower temperatures than the Granite Belt, including at Wellcamp.

“We are seeing areas less typical recording lows around the freezing point, with Charleville this morning nearing 0C.”

It’s also been a chilly start closer to the coast, with early risers in Brisbane waking to 10.8C.

It’s colder at the airport at 7.3C, with an apparent temperature of 3.9C, and further west at Archerfield, where it was 8C at 5.40.

It was 3.3C at Sunshine Coast Airport, and 5.9C at Coolangatta.

Stanthorpe was chilly on Thursday morning but there was no snow. Picture: Madison Mifsud-Ure

The chill stretched north into the Wide Bay and Burnett and beyond.

The mercury dropped below 0C at Kingaroy at -.4. It was .8C at Gympie, 3.6C at Bundaberg and 2.3 in Maryborough.

Stanthorpe siblings Nathan, 11, Ewan, 13, Leah, 10 and Juliana McNichol, 15, rug up for one of the coldest days of the year. Picture: Nigel Hallett

In the west it was 3.9C at Roma, with a feels-like temperature of -1C.

In central Queensland, temperatures are hovering just above 0C at Biloela and Clermont Airport. Temperatures were in the single digits around Mackay.

Stanthorpe local Marika McNichol yesterday said her grandchildren, Nathan, 11, Ewan, 13, Leah, 10 and Juliana, 15, were overjoyed at the possibility of seeing snow.

“It’s like Christmas to us,” she said.

Ms McNichol runs The Ugg Boot Lady in Stanthorpe and said that the cold weather was the boost that the town needed.

“You get these months where people don’t come up and it’s really quiet,” she said.

A polar blast is heading across eastern Australia and is expected to impact Queensland across Thursday and into Friday. Picture: BOM/Sky News Weather

“But then having all the tourists come up to Stanthorpe when the weather drops is amazing, we get very busy.”

And the frosty conditions have not stopped people getting out and about on the Granite Belt amid the chance of some snow activity.

The Moir family left their Ipswich home at 3am, the children taking a day off school in the hope they might find a winter wonderland.

Nigel and Almira Harding with daughter Taia travelled to Stanthorpe with the hope of seeing snow.

The Harding family left their home at 2am to visit Stanthorpe, with accommodation in the area all booked out.

“It doesn’t look like its going to snow and if that's the case we will probably go further south into Glen Innes and home that there is some snow there,” Nigel said this morning.

Renato Fraguas, owner of Honeysuckle Cottages in Stanthorpe and his children Oliver, 7, and Milla, 10, were also up bright and early in the hope of seeing snow.

Oliver Fraguas, 7, and Milla Fraguas, 10, were in Stanthorpe on Thursday with dad Renato Fraguas, hoping for some snow. Picture: Madison Mifsud-Ure

“Nearly every year they say the snow’s going to fall and if you want to the kids to see it you’ve got to get up early, but we were all really excited,” he said.

“Our cottage has had so many calls over the last week because of the snow, but we’ve been fully booked.”

Subzero minimums will persist until at least Monday.

Forecasts indicated the Gold Coast Hinterland would shiver through temperatures as low as 4C on Thursday morning.

The blob of cold polar air, which has detached and surged north, is clear in this graphic. Picture: Windy