Temperatures drop to record breaking lows across South East Queensland

Queensland is bracing for renewed flooding as two major weather systems converge over the state. It comes after records were smashed on Sunday.

Temperatures have dropped to record-breaking lows in parts of Queensland, with some places experiencing their coldest October day in 31 years, as a new threat of wet weather and possible flooding mounts.

Queenslanders in the southeast braved their way through a chilly start to the month on Sunday, with temperatures dropping to as much as 12 degrees below average.

Meteorologist Livio Regano said the unusually cold start to October was felt in “a lot of places” across the Sunshine State.

While Brisbane had its coldest October day in 23 years, Bundaberg had its coldest in at least 31 years, and the Gold Coast broke a 25-year low dating back to 1997, he said.

Both Hervey Bay and the Sunshine Coast recorded temperatures around 18.8 degrees, which was the coldest October day for those regions since 2003.

“We broke some records, it depends on how you define a record because stations can change through the years,” Mr Regano said.

“The main reason why yesterday was cold was you had a classic situation where you had a blanket of rain stopping the sun from getting in and you had a fairly cold wind under running it.

“Now that the cloud has gone, well not through the whole state but in many places, today is a much milder day.

Record-breaking rain and thunderstorms are expected across the country with flood warnings issued on both the east and west coasts as temperatures plummet in a cool and wet start to spring. #Sunriseon7pic.twitter.com/SUY2NMMwgT

— Sunrise (@sunriseon7) October 2, 2022

“It’s also (a) relatively fine day in most areas, there’s still some coastal showers in places like Fraser Coast, et cetera, Sunshine Coast, and that’s hardly surprising.

“But (there is a) much bigger threat of rain in the coming days, especially through Western Queensland.”

“This upcoming widespread rainfall will bring a renewed flooding risk – particularly for communities already impacted by flooded rivers across eastern Australia,” Bureau of Meteorology expert Jonathan How said.

Parts of the state are expected to be hit in a forecasted week of storms, with two separate rain bands to cover the country.

Heavy rainfall moving across Australia is expected to bring renewed flood risk to eastern states over the coming week.

Records have already been challenged in parts of the country’s west as the first rainband tracks east across the country.

The rainfall is moving quickly across the country, caused by two significant weather systems dragging moisture from the Indian Ocean.

“It’s going to be a dramatic start to October for the entire country,” Sky News Weather presenter Alison Osborne said.

By Wednesday, Queensland will be “in the firing line of widespread heavy rain and thunderstorms,” Ms Osborne said.

Southern inland Queensland is tipped to see the biggest drenching on Wednesday night, with rainfall totals possibly in excess of 100mm.

“We’re talking an area that is already under significant flood threat – the water table is absolutely waterlogged so heavy rainfall could lead to increased downstream flows and flooding,” Ms Osborne explained.

The rain is expected to reach the east coast by Thursday

Rainfall set to blanket Australia throughout coming week. Image: BoM

The “unseasonal” start to October followed days of intense rainfall in parts of the South East, with weather warnings having been alerted by the Bureau of Meteorology.

Mr Regano has warned that the worst of the wet weather may still be on the way, with areas expected to receive a staggering amount of rain.

“Especially in place that aren’t really supposed to get any rain around this time of year like Western Queensland, they’re going to be taking the brunt of it tomorrow and Wednesday.

“We’re talking rainfalls potentially up to 50mm or so which for a lot of places, this is the rain that they would expect in the whole month or more.

“By the time it goes get to the coast probably like Wednesday and Thursday, the rain force will be much lower, just a few millimetres typically.

“Then there’s a little bit of breathing space there around Friday, not completely dry of course but then going into the weekend there’s a second wave of rain.

“The second one, by the time it gets to the South East on Sunday, it might have a little bit more of a punch in it than the last one.”

Originally published as Temperatures drop to record breaking lows across South East Queensland