Cold snap heralds the beginning of winter in North Queensland

A cold snap will have teeth chattering around NQ over the coming days. Find out where this cold air is coming from and how long it will stick around >>

TEETH will be chattering around North Queensland in the wake of a cold snap settling in to deliver winter-like conditions over the coming days.

With the mercury expected to plunge to 11C in Townsville on Friday morning, bundling up with a warm cuppa was the go-to strategy for Western Australian travellers Sarah Durrant and Alicia McGrade.

Alicia McGrade and Sarah Durrant, from Perth, warm up with a cuppa on the Strand. Picture: Shae Beplate.

Recently graduated with honours in Psychology, Ms Durrant, 24, and her friend Ms McGrade, 24, who is a high school English teacher, were in the midst of a five-month, “half-lap of Australia” when they called into The Strand on Thursday.

After their travel plans were initially stymied by the pandemic, the women have loved experiencing North Queensland’s beautiful environment, with its warm, wet and humid weather.

“We’ve been trying to chase the sun, (but) today we finally put on jumper and jeans after such hot weather,” Ms Durrant said.

“The cold weather is always refreshing. Perfect for a warm cup of tea.”

Senior meteorologist for the Bureau of Meteorology Harry Clark said NQ would be impacted by a cold dry air mass delivering chilly mornings and clear, sunny days until early next week.

“We are expecting those temperatures to get down to around 10 or 11 degrees in Townsville for the next few days,” Mr Clark said.

“Inland areas will feel the brunt of those cooler temperatures with Charters Towers down to 6C on Friday morning, and 4C on Saturday and Sunday mornings.”

The cold weather will linger in Townsville until next week. Picture: BOM

He said the cold weather wouldn’t change quickly due to a “really slow” moving high pressure system in the Great Australian Bight directing a south-westerly wind stream from the Southern Ocean into North Queensland.

By Monday or Tuesday, he said the high would move into the Tasman Sea, turning the winds more south-easterly.

The moisture-laden air was expected to drive temperatures up by a few degrees by mid-next week.

Originally published as Cold snap heralds the beginning of winter in North Queensland