Aaron Bunch Journalist with Australian Associated Press | Collection of published work | + 61 484 008 119 | abunch@aap.com.au
Chilly weekend for Qld as cold snap hits
Average temperatures may fall by 10 degrees below average as a pre-winter cold snap strikes Queensland.
May 22, 2020
Queenslanders are likely to need an extra blanket on their beds as a record-breaking cold snap brings chilly weather to much of the state.
Temperatures could be five to 10C below the average maximum temperature across much of the state on Saturday, the Bureau of Meteorology says.
“Many locations about the east and northeast coast are likely to approach and possibly break their May records,” meteorologist Lauren Pattie said on Friday.
A layer of cold dry air, rain and thick cloud cover is causing the unseasonal weather.
“That acts kind of like an evaporative air conditioner,” Ms Pattie said.
Rockhampton, in central Queensland, is set to shiver with a maximum of 13C forecast on Saturday, which is about 14C below the average for May.
In the tropical far north, Cairns is also expected to be far colder than normal with a top of 21C forecast, which is about 9C below the average.
Cooler than average conditions are also set to hit the tiny outback town of Birdsville, in the state’s southwest, with a top of 19C expected, which is about 8C below the May average maximum temperature.
A cold weather warning has been issued for sheep graziers in the south of the state.
The chilly conditions could also affect cattle in the north.
The cool weather is expected to persist into next week, with frost possible in much of the state – including the southern tropics – from Sunday.