Snow possible in Queensland as winter storm approaches

Snow could fall in Queensland for the first time in years as a brutal winter storm sweeps into the state early next week. FIND OUT WHERE AND WHEN

A large pool of cold air that originated over waters near Antarctica will spread across southeastern Australia from this weekend into next week. Picture: Weatherzone

Snow could fall in Queensland for just the second time in almost a decade as a brutal winter storm approaches the state.

The Granite Belt towns of Stanthorpe and Applethorpe could be in for days of subzero minimums due to a blast of cold air from the Antarctic that could arrive as early as Sunday night.

Bureau of Meteorology senior meteorologist Brooke Pagel said snow was likely in northern New South Wales as early as Monday night, and could cross the border into the Granite Belt on Tuesday morning.

Snow on the Granite Belt in 2015. Picture: Supplied.

“The main time frame where we may see snow is overnight Monday into Tuesday morning,” Ms. Pagel stated.

“This snow basically is just dependent if those temperatures can drop enough while maintaining that moisture, so that may create those snow flurries.”

Snow was last reported in Queensland on June 4, 2019, in Girraween National Park and at Eukey near Stanthorpe. In 2015, 10cm of snow blanketed parts of the Granite Belt.

This time around, if snow does fall, the Bureau says its more likely to just be a “light dusting”.

The broad pool of cold has the potential to funnel large amounts of moisture into eastern Australia. Picture: Weatherzone

That has not dented the enthusiasm of weather chasers, who are preparing to travel to the Granite Belt to document the possible snow event.

Higgins Storm Chasing posted on Facebook that fresh snowflakes could settle over the Northern Tablelands in NSW on Monday, reaching areas around Stanthorpe by Tuesday morning.

“At this stage weather data currently indicates that sleet and some snow flakes are possible around the Stanthorpe area either Tuesday or Wednesday with 4-8cm of better snow a bit further south around Guyra during those two days,” Higgins posted.

Higgins Storm Chasing is predicting snow across the Northern Tablelands in NSW possibly crossing into Queensland by Tuesday morning. Picture: Higgins Storm Chasing.

The cold blast will spread across the Darling Downs with the possibility of single-digit maximums in places like Toowoomba and Oakey.

Strong, cold south-westerly winds could see apparent temperatures as low as 13C in Brisbane and across South East Queensland.

“We’re looking at maximums around 19-20C, but with 20-30km/h winds, the feels like temperature could drop by about 4-5C – so it will probably feel more like 13-14C with those winds,” Ms Pagel said.

Frost is also forecast from Central Queensland from Sunday, extending as far north as the Atherton Tablelands in the far north by Wednesday.

Wallangarra State School in Queensland’s Southern Downs Region surrounded by snow in 2015. Picture: Supplied

The weather system driving the cold snap is due to a deep low in the Tasman Sea, which is funnelling cold southern air into Queensland.

This will result in clear, sunny skies, providing some respite from the brisk conditions.