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🇦🇺 Australia /Environment & Climate

Winter nears its end as temperatures begin to warm across Sunshine State

From ABC Australia · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • Queensland, Australia, is expecting light rain and possible thunderstorms along its east coast over the weekend.
  • Temperatures are forecast to rise, signaling the end of winter and the approach of spring, with above-average warmth expected.
  • While the rain may offer some relief to drought-affected areas, it is expected to be light, with heavier falls possible in the north tropical coast region.

Much of Queensland's east coast is set to experience light rain and isolated thunderstorms this weekend as winter draws to a close. The showers, brought by a weakening trough, are expected to bring cloud cover to southern interior areas before moving over the southeast.

The system will spread plenty of cloud across parts of the southern interior … before drifting over south-east Queensland.

— Felim Hanniffy, Bureau of Meteorology senior forecasterDescribing the movement of the weather system bringing rain to Queensland.

While the rainfall is unlikely to significantly alleviate drought conditions in southern Queensland, some areas may see a reprieve. The Gold Coast and border ranges have a chance of experiencing thunderstorms later in the weekend. Further north, along the north tropical coast and Cassowary Coast, rainfall could be slightly heavier, with localized falls of 10 to 20 millimeters anticipated.

Beyond the weekend's precipitation, Queenslanders can anticipate a noticeable warming trend. Senior forecaster Felim Hanniffy noted that a second weather system next week is likely to push temperatures well above average. "It certainly won't feel like winter," he stated, predicting that temperatures in the west could reach the mid-30s, while the southeast might experience mid-to-high 20s by the middle of next week.

We couldn't rule out the chance of an isolated storm.

— Felim Hanniffy, Bureau of Meteorology senior forecasterIndicating the possibility of thunderstorms in the Gold Coast and border ranges.

The shift in weather patterns signals the imminent arrival of spring, with warmer-than-usual temperatures expected to become the norm. Lighter winds may also lead to patchy early morning fog in eastern areas as the season transitions.

It certainly won't feel like winter.

— Felim Hanniffy, Bureau of Meteorology senior forecasterCommenting on the expected above-average temperatures signaling the end of winter.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by ABC Australia. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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