Brisbane’s big chill: Rain and cloud bring end to sweltering heat

The south-east’s cool weather is expected to continue until the middle of next week, after a rainy weekend resulted in well below average temperatures.

On Sunday, Brisbane was forecast to receive between 10 and 40 millimetres of rain, which was expected to persist throughout the afternoon.

Senior meteorologist Felim Hanniffy said the showers would continue on Monday before the extensive cloud cover would begin to break up.

“Then we see that gradually ease into Tuesday and Wednesday,” he said. “By that stage, we should see temperatures start to recover – not hot, but certainly into the high 20s or low 30s later in the week.”

Hanniffy said the cloud cover would keep temperatures low for this time of year, while south-easterly winds would also keep conditions cooler than during the recent high humidity.

Heavy rain and storms hit Brisbane on Thursday evening, bringing an end to the severe heat that had hung over the city for much of the week.

The temperature in Brisbane city hit 35 degrees on Thursday, while Ipswich residents sweltered through 37 degrees. On Friday, temperatures dropped by almost 10 degrees.

On Sunday, a flood watch remained in place for south-east Queensland, with rapid river rises possible in areas that receive the heaviest rainfall.

Catchments that may be affected include the Logan and Albert rivers, Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast rivers and creeks, and the Burnett, Mary, Noosa, Pine and Caboolture rivers.

The Upper Brisbane River may be impacted, though the affected portion of the lower section will be contained to the Brewer River, as well as Warrill, Lockyer, Laidley, Ipswich and Brisbane creeks.

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