Thunderstorms to hit before cold snap moves through Queensland

Forecasters warn temperatures are set to drop tonight ahead of a cold front that due to send the mercury plunging towards subzero temperatures, after predicted storms didn’t eventuate.

The Bureau of Meteorology has cancelled this evening’s forecast for severe thunderstorms for large parts of the Central Highlands, Wide Bay, Darling Downs and South East Coast, though is still warning of a cold snap tonight.

“There’s generally been a little more cloud than we were expecting, and those storms haven’t been quite as strong as we expected.” A BOM spokesman told the Courier-Mail.

“There are still some severe storms over northeast NSW, so there is a slight risk of severe storms over south east Queensland.”

The predicted cold front is still expected to pass over the South East tonight, with it predicted to hit Brisbane around midnight tonight.

“We should hopefully see rain at the earliest on Tuesday next week.” He said.

Winds and large hail were “reasonably likely” across the southeast corner from this afternoon.

WHERE AND WHEN THE ICY BLANKET WILL HIT QUEENSLAND

Severe thunderstorms are likely though the afternoon and evening across QLD's southeast.

The potential for storms was due to a powerful low pressure system sitting over north eastern Victoria, with a cold front extending towards Queensland and moving eastwards.

The cold front reached Longreach about 6.30am this morning and is forecast to hit the southeast tomorrow morning.

Minimum temperatures in the southeast will drop between 6-10C this weekend and frost is likely in the Darling Downs, where subzero temperatures are forecast.

“These colder temperatures and dry conditions will spread across most of the state in the next few days,” the Bureau said.

“Tomorrow morning may feel quite cold in the southeast, even if it may not be the coldest temperature forecast over the next couple of days... because of the wind chill it may feel several degrees colder than it is.

“When those winds drop out that’s when the cold air can really settle down and you get those cold temperatures, so that’s what we’re expecting for Saturday and Sunday is for the winds to drop down and minimum temperatures to go down even further.

“Not only the minimums will drop for the next few days, but the maximums will come down as well, along the southeast they will drop a few degrees.”

The bureau said the effects of the cold front will be felt in areas as north as Townsville and is expected to last until mid next week.

“Minimums and maximums should slowly start to increase through the middle of next week, as we get the winds turning around,” it said.