Qld weather: Temperatures set to plummet to 0C
Nearly 7000 Darling Downs and Granite Belt homes have lost power due to severe winds overnight, as Queensland’s south braces for an Antarctic blast set to drop temperatures as low as 0C.
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Nearly 7000 Darling Downs and Granite Belt homes were in the dark after they lost power due to severe winds impacting the area overnight.
The outages were reported between 8pm and 8.30pm on Monday, taking in most of the region including the towns of Stanthorpe and Applethorpe, as well as reaching further north into the suburbs of Warwick. By 5.30am, more than 900 homes in the Southern Downs Regional Council area were still without power.
There were also reports of trees down in the region.
The Bureau of Meteorology detected an 83kmh gust at Applethorpe just after 8pm.
An Ergon spokesman said that repairs could take some time.
“We do have a number of faults in the network,” he said.
“Some of the downed lines have been called in to us, but (for) others we will have to find what the issue is and repair it.”
Storm activity had been reported in the area earlier on Monday night, with high winds expected in the Boonah area throughout the night and into Tuesday morning.
“We will potentially see some enhanced wind gusts in that area overnight,” a Bureau of Meteorology spokeswoman said.
“A severe weather warning will remain current for damaging winds in the Stanthorpe and Toowoomba area right across to Maroochydore and then also Brisbane and the Gold Coast into Tuesday morning.”
At 10.30pm Monday, 6,778 homes in the Stanthorpe region were still without power, with another 37 without power in Highfields, north of Toowoomba.
It comes as temperatures in Queensland’s south are set to plummet to as low as 0C as the Antarctic blast begins to bite.
The cold front is out in western Queensland but is moving quickly to the east, and is expected to come through the southeast tonight.
A BOM spokesman said “no snow” was expected in Queensland, however that has not stopped hopeful snow chasers travelling to Stanthorpe where it is expected to get to 1C.
Girraween Country Inn owner Shelley Wood said she was expecting more people to plan last-minute trips to the town this week amid whispers of snow.
“Next weekend is just about fully booked. I would imagine that will change if they start to whisper about snow,” Ms Wood said.
“As soon as that happens, then that switch turns on.
“Predominantly we’re booked out every weekend in July and August, and in June. We still have some vacancies but since there’s snow whisper talk, then it was start to peak.”
With strong winds set to hit the region this week, the wind chill factor will likely drop the temperature further.
âš ï¸Severe weather #warning issued for damaging winds developing over southeastern #QLD. Wind gusts in excess of 90 km/h are possible on and east of the Main Range and Scenic Rim this evening, extending across the southeast overnight. Details and updates: https://t.co/FBmpsInT9opic.twitter.com/XKtVG0SkT8
— Bureau of Meteorology, Queensland (@BOM_Qld) May 30, 2022
Ms Wood expects more people from out of town to head to Stanthorpe this weekend.
“Everyone loves the winters in the Granite Belt and they flock here in the winter,” she said.
“Even though the summer season is beautiful in itself, 8-10C cooler than Brisbane, but certainly winters the season they flock.
“As soon as there’s talk of cold weather or in fact a whisper of snow, they’ll come in droves.
“There’s talk about snow tomorrow, although I think Thursday might be more likely, but certainly we’ve got all the fires going and we’ve got six fireplaces.”
The Bureau of Meteorology has updated its severe weather warning for people on the Southeast coast, parts of Wide Bay and Burnett, and Darling Downs and Granite Belt areas.
Issued at 10.59am Monday, the Bureau warns damaging winds are set to develop over the southeast interior this evening before extending across the southeast overnight.
The Bureau warns of wind gusts over 90km/h.
These winds could potentially reach areas in Brisbane, the Gold Coast and the Sunshine Coast early on Tuesday.
Other locations that may be impacted include Warwick, Toowoomba, Stanthorpe, Caboolture and Ipswich.
Those living in the state’s capital should also wear a jumper when they leave the house this week, with temperatures set to drop into single digits.
Logan is also forecast to experience temperatures as low as 6C within the next four days.
“We might even get a shower or two in southeast Queensland tonight as it comes through and some very strong winds,” a BOM spokesman said.
“We’ve got a severe weather warning for damaging winds just range in the eastern downs.
“Tomorrow it’ll be clear again. We’ve got a lot of clouds coming through right now … then expect a straight westerly wind and quite a lot colder.”
Those hoping for snow to accompany the plummeting temperatures have been told not to get their hopes up, however.
Another Stanthorpe Kate Henderson is another hotel owner in the town who has observed busy tourism periods over winter.
“It’s always busy during winter,” said Ms Henderson, who manages and owns the Boulevard Motel.
“From now on people are just chasing cold weather. We have visitors from Brisbane, Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast and even from New South Wales.
“Basically the Brisbane area, they all come. Every weekend if you’re not booked out you’re thinking ‘what’s wrong?’
“Certainly if they think it’s going to snow the phone rings non-stop with people checking. But having said that, we’re full every weekend anyway from during the cooler months and even during summer.”
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