Queensland weather: Predictions of brutal cold blast to hit next week

One day after cold weather records were smashed around Queensland, forecasters are saying there are more icy conditions to come, with apparent temperatures to drop as low as 1C in Brisbane and -9C on the Granite Belt.

Weather forecasters are predicting a brutal cold blast to hit Queensland next week just days after cold weather records were broken across the board in ‘one for the history books’.

Amatuer forecasters on the Brisbane Weather Facebook group say it could feel like 1C in Brisbane on Thursday, July 14, while the Granite Belt town of Stanthorpe get could to -9C.

It could also feel like -6C in Warwick and -4C in Oakey, just west of Toowoomba.

Other bitterly cold apparent temperatures include 0C in Ipswich, 2C in Logan, the Gold Coast, Redcliffe and Caboolture, and -2C in Toowoomba.

The Bureau of Meteorology has not ruled out a return of frosty conditions, but said it would take almost near-perfect conditions to reach the lows predicted by social media groups.

It comes as almost the entire eastern seaboard experienced record-low maximum temperatures yesterday, with one area recording its coldest July day since 1979.

BOM meteorologist Helen Reid said the broken records were so widespread, it was “one for the history books”.

“You usually get one or two places, but this is the whole eastern seaboard,” Ms Reid said.

“From the Gulf of Carpentaria down to Townsville, Mackay, Rockhampton, Dalby, Gympie, Toowoomba, they all had their coldest July day on record.

“This is one for the books.”

Online forecasters have predicted a cold change would hit Queensland next week. Picture: Facebook

Biloela, Gladstone, Kingaroy, and Thangool recorded their coldest day since 2007, with the Gold Coast experiencing its coldest day since 2011.

Yeppoon broke its July record for coldest temperature two days in a row, with maximum temperatures of 14.1C and 12.5C recorded on Sunday and Monday.

Meanwhile, Townsville Airport recorded its coldest July day in almost 43 years with a low 15.1C maximum temperature yesterday compared to 16.4C on July 28, 1979.

Ms Reid said the Bureau expected colder temperatures due to the rain and cool air but it was “unusual” to break so many records in a single day, including rain records for far north Queensland areas.

“Usually it’s quite dry this time of year so we’ve had quite a few places which have had their wettest day,” she said.

“Cairns airport -which we have records for going back 81 years– yesterday was their wettest July day.
“We knew we’d get some rain and cooler temperatures so in that sense it wasn’t unexpected, but it was unusual.”

The Bureau said it can’t rule out further records being broken on Tuesday, particularly in South East Queensland with today’s data first available tomorrow at 9am.

Scroll down for the full list of forecast apparent temperatures below.

Ms Reid said while perfect conditions could trigger a major drop in temperatures next week, it was still too early to tell just how cold it would get.

“We don’t like to go (forecast) beyond the week,” Ms Reid said.

“It’s quite possible to get the frosty mornings once this system clears if we’ve got clear, cold air about, then yes there’s a potential for the temperatures to drop right down.

“But it could be another batch of rain coming through, so if they’re claiming frosty temperatures, clear skies is a must.”

The Bureau’s current weekly forecast predicts maximum daytime temperatures would remain in the 20s across South East Queensland up until next Monday.

Annual temperature records broken on July 4:
Gold Coast Seaway – 14.2C / 14.5C June 9, 2011
Gladstone – 12.4 C / 12.7C June 21, 2007
Kingaroy – 9.4 C / 9.8C June 20, 2007
Thangool -11.8C / 12.0C June 21, 2007

July temperature records broken on July 4:
Townsville – 15.1C / 16.4C on July 28, 1979
Mackay – 13.4C / 13.9C on July 11, 1998
Rockhampton – 12.5C / 13.1C on July 16, 1989
Gympie – 13.0C / 14.0C on July 27, 2000
Sunshine Coast – 13.4C / 15.0C on July 5, 1997
Brisbane – 14.2C / 12C on July, 27, 2000

Yeppoon 12.5C / 14.1 on July 3, and then 15.4 July 11, 1998
Cairns 21.4C / 20.8 on July, 9 1999

July rain records broken on July 4:
Cairns – 75.2mm / 44.6mm on July 1, 2022
Mareeba – 62.2mm / 15.2mm on July 10, 2012
Proserpine 73.0mm / 52.2mm on July 24, 2008
Mackay Airport – 76.4mm / 64.4mm on July 16, 2016
Hamilton Island Airport – 81.4mm / 51.8mm on July 11, 2012

JULY 14 COLD SNAP

Forecast apparent temperatures:

Brisbane – 1C

Ipswich – 0C

Canungra – 1C

Beaudesert – 1C

Logan – 2C

Redcliffe – 4C

Gold Coast – 4C

Caboolture – 3C

Bayside – 2C

Glasshouse Mountains – 0C

Maroochydore – 3C

Nambour – 0C

Gympie – -2C

Toowoomba – -2°C

Oakey – -4°C

Kingaroy – -2°C

Warwick- -6°C

Stanthorpe – -9°C