Winter’s finally arrived

IT IS the first day of winter and Toowoomba residents will definitely feel the cold change.

The chilly weather conditions are caused by a new cold front which began crossing south-east Australia on Tuesday.

The system is directing a polar blast of cold southerly winds to the region.

Today is expected to drop to a minimum of four degrees with a much lower apparent temperature predicted.

Higgins Storm Chasing is forecasting widespread frost in parts of southern-inland Queensland, including Toowoomba and the Darling Downs.

The significance of this system is how widespread the frosts are forecast along with their prolonged nature, with frosts due to hang around for almost a week.

Yesterday, temperatures plunged to near freezing.

The temperature in Toowoomba was about four degrees below the average May minimum of nine degrees.

The lowest official minimum temperature recorded at the Bureau of Meteorology’s weather station in Wilsonton was listed at 4.5 degrees at 6.30am.

But taking factors such as wind into account, the apparent temperature dropped to -0.5 degrees.

It was even colder a few kilometres west at Wellcamp airport where the temperature dropped to -1 degree.

The apparent temperature at the airport was -4.3 degrees at 7am.