IT WAS a perfect weekend once again over the Southern Downs with warm temperatures and clear skies throughout. Saturday started out with a low of 4 degrees and clear skies most of the day. A light to moderate north to north-westerly wind blew during the day and we had a high of 26 degrees.

Sunday was another nice day with some great cirrus cloud formation developing during the day. A north-westerly wind blew during the morning and swung around to the south-east in the afternoon. The temperature range was 5-27 degrees.

Today will see a trough move into the south-west corner of Queensland. A warm and dry south-westerly will precede the trough and this will push the temperatures up a bit. It should stay fine and clear throughout the day. 8-27 degrees.

Tuesday will be fine and mostly clear with some patchy cloud in the afternoon. The trough will move east during the day to sit over the southern interior of the state. This will generate some patchy cloud but unfortunately, no rain. Hot and gusty west to north-westerly winds will extend into our region ahead of the trough and this will result in a high fire danger. 6-26 degrees.

Wednesday should see the skies clear as the trough sits across the state and through our region. Hot, gusty, north-westerly winds can be expected and an increased fire danger throughout the region. There is a slight chance of some instability east of the ranges. 8-28 degrees.

Thursday will be simular to Wednesday as we stay under the influence of the trough and a high over NSW. It should be warm and dry with winds from the northwest. A high fire danger is expected. Another trough will enter the southwest of the state during the afternoon and this may start to increase instability in our region but no rain is expected at this stage. 6-26 degrees.

On Friday the trough will start to move east across the south of the state and this will increase instability. There is a slight chance of a thunderstorm as the trough moves through. Unfortunately there is not much moisture in these systems so be aware of lightning strikes that may start fire. Winds should be light from the northeast. 7-25 degrees.

Saturday and Sunday may see storms throughout the region as the trough moves off the coast. These storms will once again be a fire hazard as not much rain is forecast at this stage. If you see fire start don't hesitate to ring 000. Weekend temperatures will stay above average for both days.

- Terry West, Southern Downs

Weather and Storm Chasing