Parts of southwest Qld brave coldest recorded winter day of 2024

Southwest Qld residents have braved yet another winter cold snap, with parts of the region breaking frosty morning records. See just how cold it got around the region here.

Jessica Klein and Michael Hudson

less than 2 min read

July 31, 2024 - 11:48AM

Cold blast ushering in frost outbreak in Australia

The winter wonderland seen across parts of southwest Queensland saw Stanthorpe brave its coldest recorded morning of the year.

Bureau of Meteorology’s Daniel Hayes said a frosty -4.2C was recorded at Applethorpe on Tuesday, its lowest recorded temperature this winter.

“There is a warming trend coming over the next few days, however, widespread frost is still expected into the weekend,” Mr Hayes said.

On Wednesday, Applethorpe saw an overnight increase recording an early morning temperature of -3.7C.

Although, a number of residents reported their thermometers had recorded a frosty -5C and -6C at around 7am.

Greenlands resident Leah Graf recorded a frosty -4C just before 7am on Wednesday. Photo: Leah Graf

The BOM predict the frosty mornings will start to ease as we head into the weekend, with early morning temperatures to sit around zero across the Darling Downs and Granite Belt.

In the wider Darling Downs, Mr Hayes said Wellcamp near Toowoomba recorded a chilly -5.7C on Tuesday.

Applethorpe – Granite Belt. Temperatures fell below zero in the Granite Belt. Picture: NIGEL HALLETT

Oakey also shivered through Tuesday’s early morning subzero temperatures, recording a -4.3C just before 7am, with Warwick dropping to -3.9C and Applethorpe -3.6C.

Mr Hayes said the light east-south-easterly winds felt during the week will mean residents can take that extra layer off when they step outside.

Daytime temperatures are expected to increase as the week progresses, moving into mid-teens to low-20Cs, Mr Hayes said.

Dalby, west of Toowoomba, recorded a −4C shortly before 6am on Monday, one of the coldest days since the town recorded it’s record coldest July day of −5.8C more than a century ago.

Weatherzone’s Ashleigh Madden said the frigid air mass that originated from Antarctica had arrived behind a cold front that would linger well into this week.