Queensland weather: Temperatures plunge across state’s south, Brisbane drops to 8.7C

A brutal cold snap is sweeping southern Queensland with apparent temperatures plunging to a chilly -3.4C in parts while Brisbane woke to its coldest morning of the year.

A brutal cold snap is gripping southern Queensland, with temperatures dropping to near freezing. Picture: weatherwatch.net.au

The mercury has plunged across southern Queensland this morning with the apparent temperature falling to a brutal -3.4C in Oakey, near Toowoomba.

At 6.20am, it was 0.4C in Oakey – making it the coldest place in Queensland – while Dalby was 1.3C, Warwick 1.5C and Wellcamp Airport 1.9C.

Oakey had got as low as 0.2C at 6.20am, while Applethorpe got down to 0.8C at 3.20am.

It felt far colder in places at 6.30am, with Dalby a chilly -2.4C, Roma -2C, Wellcamp Airport -1.3C and Oakey -0.4C.

Sub-zero temperatures were recorded across eastern Australia on Monday morning. Picture: Weatherzone

Brisbane shivered through the coldest morning of the year so far, with mercury plummeting to 8.7C at 5.30am. Meanwhile, at 5.20am it was 3.6C in Amberley

Bureau of Meteorology senior forecaster Felim Hanniffy said it was the coldest day of the year so far in some parts, with Oakey’s temperature dropping to eight degrees below average.

“A cold front moved across the southeast over the weekend, and dragged up the cooler air, high pressure moved over and light winds and clear skies that resulted in the cooler morning in the south east and much of the state,” Mr Hanniffy said.

“For parts of the southeast and upper northern interior, [it’s] the coldest day of the year so far.

“We will see gradually as the winds turn back onshore, the moisture will return to much of the east coast and the nights won’t be as cold.”

It comes after subzero temperatures on Monday morning, with Applethorpe getting to -0.5C, Roma to -0.4C and Oakey 0.7C.

Despite the chilly weather, it’s going to be mostly dry for much of Australia this week as a high-pressure system controls the weather, but wet weather is on the way heading into the weekend.

“In Brisbane, we will probably see a greater chance of showers in the later part of this week and particularly over the weekend,” Mr Hanniffy said.

Showers are expected on the Sunshine Coast, with isolated 5mm to 10mm falls in some parts, while showers are also expected for the Gold Coast and Cairns with subzero temperatures easing throughout the week.

Mr Hanniffy said the rest of Queensland can expect mostly dry conditions and conditions will be settled through the interior with less cold mornings.

Strong southeasterly winds may lead to hazardous marine conditions for parts of northeast Queensland.

“Strong southeasterly winds may lead to hazardous marine conditions about the far northeast tropical coast the next few days,” Mr Hanniffy said.

“Marine strong wind warnings have been issued for Wednesday for the Cape York peninsula and Cooktown waters. Elsewhere, fresh southeasterly winds up to 25 knots are expected to persist the rest of the week about the offshore tropical east coast waters.”