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Where and when the cold snap will hit Queensland

A bitter cold change is set to send the mercury plunging across the state, with some areas expecting a temperature drop of more than 10 degrees over the weekend, but not before severe storms hit the southeast. SEE THE AREAS FACING THE BIG CHILL

Danielle O’Neal and Cormac Pearson
2 min read
April 29, 2020 - 2:29PM
Weather update April 28

RESIDENTS in the Darling Downs will feel the temperature drop as low as -2 degrees and minimum temperatures on the Gold Coast will plunge to 7 degrees, as a low pressure system makes a beeline through Australia.

The cold snap will hit Queensland from Friday and stick around until mid next week, with Saturday expected to be the coldest day, but before that the Bureau of Meteorology warns severe thunderstorms are expected to hit parts of the southeast.

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Severe thunderstorms are likely to hit Brisbane, the Gold Coast, Toowoomba, Maroochydore and Dalby, the bureau warns.

People are urged to prepare for damaging winds, rain and large hail.

Thunderstorms are also possible in the Central West, Channel Country, Maranoa and Warrego and Wide Bay regions.

Southern parts of the Darlings Downs will be the coldest in the state, with minimum temperatures forecast to be as low as -2 degrees in Stanthorpe.

“That’s because they are further south and also the most elevated, so that elevated terrain will help to cool things,” Bureau of Meteorology forecaster Peter Markworth said.

“That region in general is going to be the coldest and we are expecting frost across most of the Darling Downs and potentially the Maranoa and Warrego districts.”

Channel country will feel temperature deviations between 8-12 degrees below their maximum and minimum averages for April. 

Minimum temperatures around 5 degrees are forecast in Birdsville for the weekend, which is more than 6 degrees lower than the average for May.

Even Townsville will feel a 10 degree drop in the minimum temperature between Friday and Saturday.

Mr Markworth said the low pressure system that will cause the cold snap is expected to hit southern Australia tonight and may bring snow to the alps of New South Wales and Victoria.

“There is just a lot of cold air behind it because the trajectory of the wind is coming from the south,” he said.

“It’s making a beeline from the pole essentially straight up to Australia, which is why it is perhaps appearing or feeling like it is going to be a bit colder than usual.”

The trough may also cause severe thunderstorms with damaging winds and large hail in southeast and Darling Downs regions on Thursday.

“Today the southern part of the channel country and Maranoa and Warrego districts have potential for getting those severe storm as well, associated as the trough moves through,” Mr Markworth said.

The Bureau of Meteorology will issue weather warnings where required.

SEE THE FORECAST TEMPERATURE CHANGE

Stanthorpe 

Today Min 12 Max 23

Saturday Min -2 Max 14

Warwick

Today Min 13 Max 27

Saturday Min 0 Max 18

Birdsville 

Today Min 20 Max 33

Saturday Min 5 Max 21

Brisbane

Today Min 18 Max 28

Saturday Min 9 Max 23

Gold Coast 

Today Min 19 Max 27

Saturday Min 7 Max 23

Maroochydore (Sunshine Coast)

Today Min 18 Max 27

Saturday Min 8 Max 23

Toowoomba 

Today Min 15 Max 25

Saturday Min 4 Max 17

Townsville

Today Min 21 Max 31

Saturday Min 11 Max 29

Mackay

Today Min 22 Max 28

Saturday Min 10 Max 25

Bundaberg

Today Min 19 Max 28

Saturday Min 11 Max 24

Originally published as Where and when the cold snap will hit Queensland

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Original URL: https://www.goldcoastbulletin.com.au/news/queensland/where-and-when-the-cold-snap-will-hit-queensland/news-story/379129a25594010873a2f78d423f692b