Possibility for snow emerges in southern Qld as Ekka winds blast southeast

Queensland could see snow this week with weather models predicting up to 14cm falling on the Granite Belt.

Snow is possible for southern Queensland this weekend, as the southeast gets an early blast of the ‘Ekka westerlies’.

Weather models suggest there is the possibility for snow down to 1200m, with Saturday morning looming as the best chance for snowfall.

Sky News meteorologist Rob Sharpe said the likelihood of snow depended on a low pressure system and where it was positioned.

“There is definitely the potential for snow in southern Queensland this weekend,” he said.

“It is going to be a little bit touch and go, but it definitely cannot be ruled out.

“There is going to be a low pressure system and exactly how it guides the rain across New South Wales and Queensland will govern whether there is going to be any snow in southern Queensland.”

Weather models suggest there could be up to 14cm of snow on the Granite Belt this week. Picture: Windy

Mr Sharpe said the mountain peaks along the Queensland-NSW border would be the most likely locations for snow.

“We’re talking about your usual suspects, the tallest mountains in southern Queensland,” he said.

“The tallest mountain in southern Queensland is Mount Superbus, at 1375m.

“Even in the wetter scenario, it’s a decent chance to get the snow right up at the top.

“Snow could fall as low as about 1200m, there is some significant elevation there in the Southern Downs.”

Mount Superbus could be a likely location for any potential snowfall this weekend.

Mr Sharpe said the more southerly the low pressure system, the better the chance for snowfall.

“If the low pressure system that’s bringing the rain to New South Wales is too far north, then it will bring rain to Queensland, and the air won’t be quite cold enough,” he said.

“There won’t be enough cold dry air mixing into the system on the Queensland border.

“But if the low is further south, and there’s less rain to Queensland, there’s actually going to be colder air in that system, and therefore better potential for snow.”
Snow fell near Stanthorpe last year, with footage by Stanthorpe Holiday Park capturing a flurry along the New England Highway at Severnlea.

It comes as South East Queensland gets an early blast of winds similar to the ‘Ekka westerlies’ with gusts up to 60 km/h expected today.

Brisk westerly winds are forecast across the southeast from the Sunshine Coast to the Gold Coast, with the possibility of gusts up to 60km/h.

South East Queensland residents will need to rug up in the windy weather. Picture: Liam Kidston

Senior meteorologist Angus Hines said the winds would build gradually throughout the day, before subsiding this evening.

“It is going to be a bit windy in some parts, particularly for the southeast,” he said.

“Wind gusts are expected to climb during Monday morning, probably peak for a while during the afternoon, and then subside this evening across Brisbane, the Gold Coast, and the Sunshine Coast.

“All of these places in the southeast could get a little bit of a breezy afternoon, in terms of those wind speeds we might be seeing top gusts in the realm of 40-60km/h.”

Westerly winds typically occur during the Ekka. Picture: Richard Walker

Mr Hines said there was also a chance of showers in the southeast on Wednesday.

“On Tuesday, we’ll see a little cloud of patchy light rain moving to the southwest, only a couple of millimetres in it as that moves through, that will then reach the southeast coast on Wednesday,” he said.

“So that’s when we see a bit of a bit of a shift in the forecast for Brisbane and other parts of the southeast, with some cloudy skies and just patchy light falls pushing through.

“The rainfall total is really low, maybe a couple of spots might get five millimetres, but it’s not a real powerful wet weather situation and that all clears up on Thursday.”

Originally published as Possibility for snow emerges in southern Qld as Ekka winds blast southeast