BOM predicts shift from warmth to wet, then cold conditions for Townsville region

NQ's mid-winter warmth will shift to rain and chilly temperatures as a weather system tracks across the region. See when it’s expected to rain.

Mia Donily, 2, and sister Maddison Donily, 4, visiting the Herveys Range Heritage Tea Rooms from Cairns, have packed their jumpers ready for the cold change. Picture: Shae Beplate.

Keep your jumpers and umbrellas on standby because North Queensland is poised for some dramatic shifts in the weather over the coming days.

Wet and chilly conditions are expected Thursday and Friday, followed by a return to traditional colder winter weather over the weekend and into next week.

Senior Meteorologist for the Bureau of Meteorology, Christie Johnson said Wednesday’s warm spell was driven by a trough moving through southern Queensland, which pushed warm air over the Townsville region, lifting the maximum temperature of 28C – three degrees above the July average.

“We will see the cloud band that’s moving over the central west/ northwest, tracking eastwards and thickening up over the Townsville region … later (Thursday) and into Friday morning, and we’ll see some areas of rain developing,” Ms Johnson said.

Friday minimum temperature forecast for NQ. Picture: BOM.

Saturday minimum temperature forecast for NQ. Picture: BOM.

“(Thursday’s) rainfall total is expected to be probably just single digit rainfalls and we’ll still get up to about 26C – slightly above average.

“Those showers or potentially areas of rain increase later in the day and then continue into Friday morning (when) the bulk of the rainfall is likely.”

Thursday rainfall forecast for NQ. Picture: BOM.

Friday rainfall forecast for NQ. Picture: BOM.

Associated with an upper level system strengthening over Queensland, the “unseasonable” thick cloud will keep the maximum temperature down to 21C and deliver an estimated 5-15mm, but up to 20mm could fall in some areas, including Townsville.

Ms Johnson expected the cloud to move off the coast on Friday afternoon, which was followed by a high pressure system that will deliver traditional winter conditions of clear skies and cold mornings, with 11-13C minimums, until at least mid-next week.

Four day rainfall forecast for Queensland. Picture: BOM.

Thursday forecast

• Townsville: Min 19, Max 26. Cloudy. High chance of showers, most likely in the evening.

• Ingham: Min 21, Max 26. Cloudy. High chance of showers, most likely in the evening. Light winds.

• Ayr: Min 18, Max 26. Cloudy. High chance of showers, most likely in the evening. Light winds.

• Charters Towers: Min 14, Max 27. Partly cloudy. Medium chance of showers, most likely at night. Light winds.

Originally published as BOM predicts shift from warmth to wet, then cold conditions for Townsville region