16 hours ago
Minimum temperatures to return to average for much of Queensland after wintry week
Though parts of Queensland continued to shiver through below-average minimum temperatures this morning, a reprieve is in sight for those struggling with the big freeze.
The Bureau of Meteorology has forecast minimum temperatures will move back towards average in most of the state tomorrow.
"In general … the maximum and minimums will be closer together," duty forecaster Sophie Ninnes said.
Brisbane's minium temperatures will return to double digits on Tuesday, along with much of the Wide Bay and coastal parts of the Capricornia region, while in the Darling Downs and Granite Belt it will range between three and seven degrees Celsius.
As for the wintry blue skies, while the southern half of the state will stay clear, cloud and showers will start to develop in the north, where the minimum temperatures will hover around the mid to late teens from tomorrow.
Ms Ninnes said the reason for the cooler temperatures last week was a front that brought in southerly winds and Antarctic air from the south.
"Then we had a big high sitting over the state, which meant that that cool air lingered along with the westerly winds as well bringing in the dryness from the centre of the country."
She said now that the next system is coming through and the high moves off, those winds will turn more easterly and south-easterly, particularly on the coast.
The forecast also showed mostly average maximum temperatures for large parts of Queensland, other than the southern peninsula and central eastern parts, which will stay on the cooler side thanks to a cloud band.
"That'll mean that the surface can't warm up, so those temperatures won't get quite as high," Ms Ninnes said.
"But other than that, we're looking at roughly average maximum temperatures as well."
According to Ms Ninnes, northern parts of the state may also see some rainfall developing today, with the main falls to come tomorrow, despite it being the dry season.
"In terms of rainfall totals, we could see falls up to 20 to 40 millimetres across Monday and Tuesday, but we may see some isolated falls in excess of 60 millimetres through there as well."
