At the weekend

THE weekend presented us with a bit of rain to the south and east of Warwick plus some very hot temperatures.

Saturday had thick cloud cover in the morning but it broke up to be patchy by afternoon before some showers moved through from mid-afternoon to evening.

Winds were from the north-west during the morning before swinging to east north-east during the afternoon. Temperatures ranged from 21-36 degrees.

Some overnight cloud hung around early Sunday morning but cleared by about 8am to a fine day. The day was fine and some patchy cloud moved in during the afternoon. Temperatures ranged from a low of 24 degrees to a high of 36 in the afternoon.

Today

TODAY will see the upper trough and an associated low sitting in a line from St George to Mt Isa. Any areas east of the trough are likely to see some storms and rain with areas close to the trough receiving heavier falls. A surface trough is likely to develop over border regions during the afternoon and may bring some showers and storms to the Southern Downs and Granite Belt. Winds should be light to moderate from the north tending north-west at times. 21-33.

Tomorrow

THE trough and associated low will swing to the west slightly overnight Monday. A surface trough is likely to develop over the Western Downs generating instability over the region while drawing in warm, moist air from the north-east. A series of complex surface lows and troughs may develop in the late afternoon and there is a chance of showers and storms over the eastern and Southern Downs. It should be clear until mid-afternoon with winds light from the north-east. 20-30.

Wednesday

WEDNESDAY should see the upper trough stalled over the state and producing rain for most regions. It should be partly cloudy for most of the day before filling in during the afternoon. A surface trough should be sitting to the west of St George and areas east should see some rain or maybe a storm. Our area has a chance of showers and a storm by mid-afternoon. Winds may be moderate from the east north-east for most of the day, drawing more warm air over us. 19-32.

Thursday

THURSDAY will see a low develop over Central Queensland and this should draw the upper trough to the east bringing rain and some storms with it. By midday the trough should be sitting from Goondiwindi to The Gulf. This should push rain and storms into the Downs from the south-west and there is a chance of falls up to 15mm for the day. Winds should be light to moderate from the north-west for most of the day. 19-26.

Friday

FRIDAY has the upper low and trough sitting across Queensland still and generating heavy rain in some areas. A surface low should develop over our region during the morning to be sitting near Dalby by mid-afternoon. This should generate heavy rain for the Downs and falls up to 25mm could be likely. No storms are forecast, just heavy rain. Light to moderate north to north-west winds should blow most of the day and it will be overcast all day and into the night. 18-24.

The weekend

AT THIS stage both Saturday and Sunday should be overcast, cool and wet with some significant falls to the west of the region once again.

Terry West, Southern Downs Weather and Storm Chasing