Qld weather: Cooler conditions in southeast, residual flooding
Subtropical and polar jet streams are colliding over Queensland, triggering a heatwave and flooding in the north, and 100km/h winds and a 12C temperature drop in the southeast.
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The collision of two jet streams over Queensland is fuelling extreme weather conditions, ranging from flooding and heatwave conditions in the north, to 12C temperature drops and 100km/h winds in the southeast.
A polar jet stream is clashing with a subtropical jet stream above the east coast, creating a large contrast in temperature and air mass density.
The freak phenomenon has triggered a severe weather warning for South East Queensland, with damaging 100km/h wind gusts possible around the Main Range National Park.
Temperatures are forecast to plummet 12C in the southeast later this week, with Brisbane to fall to just 12C overnight with daytime maximums climbing to 25C.
A heatwave warning is active for Queensland’s north with temperatures to soar into the low 40s today and Thursday.
Areas impacted include the Peninsula, Gulf Country, Northern Goldfields and Upper Flinders and North Tropical Coast and Tablelands Districts
Meanwhile, torrential rain has triggered flash flooding south of Townsville with the Bruce Hwy cut in both directions between Gumlu and Wangaratta, prompting the rescue of two young men after their car became stuck in flood waters on the highway.
Bureau meteorologist Brooke Pagel said the flash flooding was caused by thunderstorms moving through the area, causing heavy rainfall in a short an amount of time.
“About 25mm of rain moved through the area in a three-hour period from 9pm to midnight,” she said.
“Given how saturated the areas are already, the renewed rise isn’t surprising.”
A warning is in place for the Dawson River with rainfall earlier in the week causing renewed river level rises in the upper Dawson catchment, with minor flooding likely for Taroom and Baralaba from Wednesday afternoon.
An active flood watch is in place for the Don River in Central Queensland.
Queensland’s unpredictable weather saw a trip to an athletics carnival throw one rural family’s life into disarray after a deluge in October.
Ange McMaster, who lives on the outskirts of Goondiwindi, took her three daughters to Sydney to compete in the carnival on October 17.
Little did she know they’d be stranded from their home for nine days.
“The forecast wasn’t looking good. Then I had a phone call from a family member telling me that it was impossible to get home for 10 days,” Ms McMaster said.
“The roads from the south were completely cut and (I was told) I needed to either stay (in Sydney) or find another way around.”
What ensued was over 20 hours of driving for what should have been a nine-hour trip home.
It caused massive disruptions to her daughters’ schooling and the roads are not yet clear, but Ms McMaster said they’ve remained resilient.
“We live 30km one way from the small local school the children attend … there are a number of crossings for us to get through to reach it and the bus won’t run if the water is threatening to close the road,” she said.
“The kids and I make do and school is very spontaneous and all the learning is done mostly outside.”
CURRENT TEMPS & 7-DAY FORECASTS
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Originally published as Qld weather: Cooler conditions in southeast, residual flooding
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