Brisbane weather: Wet weekend forecast for Australia Day

Wet weather is forecast for Queensland heading into the long weekend, but there’s good news for those engaging in Australia Day festivities.

THERE’S volatile weather across Queensland for the Australia Day weekend, as a tropical low in the Northern Territory pushes more rain into the Sunshine State.

The Bureau of Meteorology is forecasting possible storms and showers for most of Queensland today and tomorrow.

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It’s a threat that carries extra weight ahead of the weekend, with clouds casting doubt over plans of barbecues, beach swims and backyard cricket.

However like the political debate about the day itself, Australia Day weather is expected to divide the state.

“In Brisbane there’s a good chance of a shower and storm this afternoon, similar to recent days,” Bureau of Meteorology forecaster Peter Markworth said.

“That chance should increase over Saturday – hopefully with higher rainfall totals.”

However the clouds should part on Australia Day, bringing sun to the southeast and “up to north of Rockhampton and Mackay”.

“From Sunday onwards the focus of the moisture is starting to be pulled back,” Mr Markworth said.

“Possible rainfall in the afternoon and early morning but light (and) nothing like what we’ve been seeing.”

It’s good news for Brisbane, with river city residents expected to pack South Bank Parklands for Australia Day festivities.

Broadbeach celebrations and Buderim’s annual Australia Day march should also escape the rain.

While the southeast soaks up the sun, the Far North may simply be soaking.

The Bureau of Meteorology predicts a weekend of wet weather for Cairns and Townsville.

“We’re expecting the chance of showers and storms to be quite high right across the weekend and into next week,” Mr Markworth said.

Widespread showers and storms in coming days will bring locally heavy falls to the interior of the state. A monsoonal low over the NT will focus the largest rainfall totals over the Gulf Country.
Stay aware of all warnings, including flood warnings at https://t.co/CWPdDC19hZ pic.twitter.com/Yk4CTOskgt

— Bureau of Meteorology, Queensland (@BOM_Qld) January 23, 2020

“It does mean that a lot of the inland areas are seeing rainfall that they haven’t seen in the last couple of months – in that sense it’s quite good.”

The state has been sweating through a heatwave already this week, and despite rain the state’s expected to remain characteristically warm throughout the weekend.

“Most (regions are) seeing around about average, but minimum temperatures are still a few degrees above average,” Mr Markworth said.

The mercury is expected to climb to 32C in Cairns on Sunday, Townsville should hit 33C.

There’s lower temperatures down the coast with Brisbane expected to reach 30C and Surfers Paradise pipped for 29C.