Queensland weather: Threat of record winter deluge as 3000km rain band sweeps country

Queensland is facing the threat of record winter rainfall as a 3000km rain band sweeps across the country, bringing an unseasonal deluge and sending temperatures plunging.

A 3000km rain band is sweeping towards Queensland, threatening record winter rainfall. Picture: Weather Warning Network

Amateur weather forecasters are warning of record rainfall over coming days as a 3000km rain band sweeps across Australia into Queensland.

However, the Bureau of Meteorology is downplaying the threat, saying isolated totals across the state’s southeast may only reach 25mm.

The unseasonal rain band, which currently stretches from Australia’s most northwest coast to the eastern seaboard, is expected to intensify later this week.

Uluru received 30mm on Monday, about 10 per cent of its annual average.

Heavy rainfall is possible for North Queensland later this week. Picture: Weather Warning Network

Brisbane Weather’s David Taylor is predicting widespread rainfall along the Queensland coast, with Townsville expecting 170mm.

“Modelling overnight has kept the heavy rain for the period of July 2-3 to the north of about Rockhampton. At the moment 200mm is unlikely but could return on future runs,” he said.

“For South East Queensland we will see falls up to around 80mm at this stage and unless this low moves further south.”

However, the Bureau of Meteorology’s Patch Clapp said how much rain Queensland would receive remained unclear.

Severe Weather Update: Weather forecast. Find out what to expect across the country over the coming days. Video current at 3:00pm AEST, Monday 26 June 2023. Latest: https://t.co/4W35o8iFmh or the BOM Weather app. pic.twitter.com/kJsWt0F72w

— Bureau of Meteorology, Australia (@BOM_au) June 26, 2023

“There is a reasonably high chance of seeing rainfall early next week in the Brisbane and southeast Queensland region and cooler conditions are forecast for the back part of the week after some higher temperatures this week,” Mr Clapp said.

“There is a lot of variability for the rainfall late Sunday into Monday, around 1-25mm are currently on the charts.”

Temperatures across Queensland are also expected to plummet, with subzero conditions forecast for the state’s Granite Belt and Darling Downs.

“June averages unusually sit around a maximum average of 22, so we are sitting around average now despite the warm start to the week,” Mr Clapp said.

“This will drop off for Wednesday all the way through to Monday next week.”