At the weekend

SATURDAY brought us some overcast skies and a bit of rain on the Darling Downs and Granite Belt with heavier falls south of Warwick.

Temperatures were mild with a high of 19 degrees after an overnight low of 11. Winds were light from the south-east tending north-east at times. 1.2mm of rain was recorded for Warwick to 9am Sunday.

Sunday was partly cloudy with moderate temperatures. Winds were light from the east-north-east tending east-south-east at times.

It reached a maximum temperature of 22 degrees after an overnight low of 9.

Forecast

THE Downs and Granite Belt should start to be influenced by a surface trough that will stall in a line from Longreach to Coffs Harbour, producing some unstable weather to the east. A high in the Tasman Sea is extending a persistent, weak ridge along the coast and pushing showers into the ranges.

Today

TODAY should be fine and mostly clear during the morning but should start to become cloudy by mid-afternoon. There is a chance of showers to the west of Warwick to Goondiwindi for most of the day, spreading to the east during the afternoon as a surface trough stagnates over the west of the region. Winds should be light from the north before swinging north-east during the late afternoon. 9-22.

Tomorrow

TUESDAY should see the upper trough and associated surface trough move east to sit over the Downs and Granite Belt by afternoon. A high in the Tasman will continue to direct moist air into south-east Queensland and this may develop enough instability to produce a couple of thunderstorms along the ranges during the afternoon. Areas west of the ranges may see a few showers in the afternoon and it should be partly cloudy for most of the day. Winds should be light to moderate from the west for most of the day. 10-22.

Wednesday

WEDNESDAY may see the temperature drop a bit with a slight chance of a frost in the Granite Belt region. The surface trough will once again affect our weather as it stalls over the Downs and develops cloudy conditions in our region. It should be clear during the morning but cloud should start to build by mid-afternoon to become patchy by late afternoon. There is only a slight chance of a shower near the ranges. Winds should be light to moderate from the south before swinging east during the afternoon. 7-22.

Thursday

THURSDAY should be fine during the morning with some light cloud. The cloud may develop during the day and become patchy with a slim chance of a shower during the afternoon. Winds should be moderate from the south for most of the day. 7-20.

Friday

FRIDAY should see the surface trough start to move off the coast and conditions should start to clear. There should be patchy cloud during the morning before clearing by evening. Winds should be light from the south for most of the day. 7-20.

Weekend

AT THIS stage both days of the weekend may see some patchy cloud with the chance of a shower. Temperatures will be around the low 20s for both days.

Terry West, Southern Downs Weather and Storm Chasing