Brisbane weather: Autumn’s warm start comes to an end

Summer-like heat and sunshine have remained steadfast in Queensland throughout school holidays – but it won’t last.

South East Queensland’s unseasonably warm start to autumn is about to come to an end, with forecasters warning a cool snap is on the way.

Bureau of Meteorology forecaster Selim Hanneffy said temperatures were likely to dip back down to the monthly average from Monday.

“A weather system is going to move across the area overnight into (Monday) and we’ll see a southeasterly or southerly airflow become established across most of the state behind that system ... and that’s going to bring temperatures back toward average for this time of year,” Mr Hanneffy said.

Hollie Brook and Isabelle Dufty, both 10 of Pimpama, enjoying the sunshine on the last day of school holidays at Main Beach on the Gold Coast. Picture: Liam Kidston

He said the “very high” temperatures over the past week had been caused by a weak ridge lingering along the east coast but warned “that is all about to change”.

“Then we had a weather system moving to the west of the state and that’s about to draw down a northerly airflow across the central and eastern parts of the state, which helps to lift those temperatures,” Mr Hanneffy said.

Best friends Isabelle Dufty and Hollie Brook, both 10, spent the school holidays enjoying the warm weather with plenty of swimming near their Pimpama homes.

Isabelle’s mother, Shannon Dufty, said the family made the most of the last day of holidays by “enjoying the sunshine with good friends”.