Breaking Weather News - A cold morning for parts of QLD

Josh Fisher, 4 July 2009

The cold air affecting the southeast has made its way into QLD in yesterday's strong southwest winds. Last night temperatures fell below average for many places along the Southeast Coast and cool enough for patchy frost in the Darling Downs.

Coolangatta was the furthest from their average with a minimum of three degrees, seven below normal. Point Lookout was 6 below average at 8 degrees. In the Darling Downs, patchy frost about Stanthorpe with a minimum of minus one.

Brisbane only got down to 11 degrees last night, which is about average for July. The day was a different story, where the city only reached 19 degrees, three below average. Many areas in the southeast remained three to six degrees below their average maximum temperatures.

Breaking Weather News - Sunny skies on the horizon

Martin Palmer, 3 July 2009

After some days of gale force winds, blizzards, heavy rain and snow the southeast can look forward to some calm at the end of the storm.

A high pressure system is currently sat over Western Australia and has brought a few days of calm relief now for the west coast. South Australia will soon see winds drop too, as the high extends its influence into the Bight this weekend. Both states had been severely rocked by some damaging winds and heavy rainfall at the start of the week.

From Wednesday it was the turn of Victoria, Tasmania and New South Wales to front up to the wintry blast. This led to some heavy snowfall over the VIC and NSW alps with blizzard conditions developing in some very strong winds. Over the weekend a low and series of troughs should continue to bring strong winds to the NSW coast in particular.

However, the high pressure in the west will be waiting in the wings. VIC and TAS will begin to see a change late in the weekend as skies begin to clear from the west. By Wednesday the high will be into the Tasman Sea, heralding at least a few days of mostly sunny skies and much lighter winds.

Breaking Weather News - Wind easing over the southeast

Josh Fisher, 4 July 2009

The strong winds that have been affecting parts of the southeast have been easing throughout the day. Over the past few days the state of Victoria has seen strong to gale force winds and heavy rain in areas, bringing some precipitation totals near the July average.

Winds became strong and gusty beginning June 30th and persisted through today. On Tuesday, a wind gust at Mount Hotham was recorded at 157 km/h while Melbourne saw winds reach 87km/h. Areas of SA received their strongest winds in 7 years. The winds continued and spread through NSW and QLD.

Winds today are not as strong with Melbourne receiving a gust of 56 km/h and Mount Hotham reaching 72 km/h. Winds across the area are remaining mainly below 50 km/h and expected to ease to light winds by Monday. With fresh snow for the major resorts and clear skies moving in, ski conditions are expected to be good.