SUN’N FUN OVER
SUNNY skies aren’t here to stay – the Bureau of Meteorology forecasts potentially severe thunderstorms, hail and wind for Saturday afternoon.
It’s not great news for this weekend’s The Star Gold Coast Magic Millions Raceday, which has nine races at the Gold Coast Turf Club from 10am.
BOM metrologist Matthew Marshall said Friday would be a hot, sunny day of 30C but by Saturday afternoon the Gold Coast would get the remnants of a southerly from northern NSW which would bring with it a cold change.
“The situation means there’s the potential for severe storms in the southeast, most likely in the afternoon and into the evening,” he said.
“It’s hard to say which spots are going to get storms but, more broadly, they’ll be across the entire southeast because all the ingredients are right for severe storms with large hail and damaging winds and possible heavy rainfall.”
Mr Marshall said the weather would clear a bit by Sunday but there was still the possibility of rain, while Monday would continue to be “a dreary day”.
Next week – the last week of the school holidays – was likely to be overcast with little sunshine.
One Brisbane family who are leaving the Gold Coast on Saturday after a week-long holiday at Turtle Beach Resort, are happy they got to enjoy the sunshine.
Amy Sellick said her four children had lapped up the hot sunny weather.
Her eldest learnt to surf at Mermaid Beach. “It’s been the best week, even though it was cut short because of the lockdown,” Ms Sellick said.
“But we left for the Gold Coast at 6.01pm on Monday afternoon as soon as the lockdown finished.”