Heavy rain forecast for South East Queensland ahead of cold snap

More than 80mm of rain could fall across parts of South East Queensland over the next 72 hours before a brutal cold snap driven by a “polar surge” sends temperatures plummeting.

Parts of South East Queensland are in for a drenching over the next three days ahead of a brutal cold snap.

It comes as a major cold weather system – dubbed a “polar surge” – is forecast to sweep across the south and southeast of Australia over the weekend.

A polar surge is heading towards Australia’s southeast.

More than 80mm could fall on the Gold Coast from today until Saturday, with the heaviest falls of up to 45mm expected on Friday.

The Sunshine Coast could see up to 90mm over the next three days with 40mm on Wednesday and 45mm Thursday.

In Brisbane, there is a high chance of showers over the next 48 hours, with a total of 35mm possible.

Heavy, widespread rain is forecast for South East Queensland over the next three days before a cold snap early next week.

The Bureau of Meteorology’s Helen Reid said winds coming from over the water was brining in moisture and a couple of showers with it.

While the rainfall totals have eased since last week, the showery conditions remain for southeast Queensland due to consistent wind activity.

“The upper atmosphere has got enough to assist those showers that just keep on going,” Ms Reid said.

Heavy rain and even snow is forecast for Australia’s south.

A thunderstorm is also possible for the Sunshine Coast and parts of the Darling Downs.

Once the rain clears, South East Queensland is in for a cold snap which would see temperature drop to below average.

Ms Reid said it would feel more like winter next week. It could get to just 5C in Ipswich on Thursday while it will hover between 8-6C in Toowoomba for most of the week.

Brisbane will fall to 9C on Thursday while it will get down to 7C in Roma on Wednesday.

“We do have a cooler air change coming through … it will be a drier air mass as well so that will make it feel even colder,” she said.

RAINFALL FORECAST

Brisbane

Wednesday – 6-15mm

Thursday – 10-20mm

Friday – 1-3mm

Gold Coast

Wednesday – 10-20mm

Thursday – 25-45mm

Friday – 6-15mm

Sunshine Coast

Wednesday – 20-40mm

Thursday – 25-45mm

Friday – 1-4mm

COLDEST MINIMUMS

Brisbane

Monday – 11C

Tuesday – 10C

Wednesday – 9C

Thursday – 10C

Friday – 11C

Toowoomba

Monday – 8C

Tuesday – 7C

Wednesday – 6C

Thursday – 6C

Friday – 6C

Roma

Monday – 12C

Tuesday- 8C

Wednesday – 7C

Thursday – 8C

Friday – 8C

Ipswich

Monday – 9C

Tuesday – 9C

Wednesday – 7C

Thursday – 5C

Friday – 9C