Snow forecast for region as winter outlook released

Winter is looking to be wetter but also slightly warmer than average, and forecasters are predicting a sprinkling of snow next week to start off the season.

Winter is looking to be wetter but also slightly warmer than average for many parts of Australia, including the Darling Downs.

According to the Bureau of Meteorology’s winter climate outlook released this week the rainfall will occur at the beginning of the season, with warmer than average days to continue throughout the three-month period.

BoM has also predicted the Granite Belt will receive a light sprinkling of snow next week to start off the season.

This is due to cold air tracking from the Southern Ocean into Queensland on Wednesday and Thursday next week.

Snow, while rare, isn’t unheard of in the Granite Belt region with it last falling in 2019.

BoM senior climatologist Andrew Watkins said the climate was being influenced by the El Nino and Indian Ocean Dipole.

“The El Nino Southern Oscillation and Indian Ocean Dipole are currently neutral and will remain neutral for the winter and warmer ocean temperatures to the north of Australia may increase the moisture available to enhance rainfall earlier in the season,” he said.

The mean maximum for Toowoomba in winter is 17 degrees, with the mean minimum temperature sitting at 5.8 degrees, so we can expect temperatures to exceed those averages.

Rainfall on average varies over the three month period with 56.8mm for June, 52mm for July and 39.5mm for August.

TOOWOOMBA FORECAST

Today: Min 12, Max 15

Tomorrow: Min 11 Max 16

Saturday: Min 7 Max 17

Sunday: Min 5 Max 18