Prepare to hop into a dryer long weekend
Up to 100mm of rain is expected to drench the Gold Coast over the next 24 hours, but weather experts said disruptions from downpours over the long weekend would be minimal.
Heavy rainfall has already swept across parts of southeast Queensland, with the Glitter Strip expecting a further deluge before Easter.
The wet weather has been attributed to a “subtle” trough extending from the Northern Territory to Queensland.
However, the Bureau of Meteorology said Easter weekend plans on the Gold Coast should not be disrupted as the rain clears on Thursday.
Forecaster Patch Clapp said there was a medium to high chance of rain over the long weekend, but it would not be disruptive to holidaymakers.
“Generally speaking, rainfall will sit around that 10 to 60mm range but there’s a chance of isolated heavy falls between 50 to 100mm as well,” Mr Clapp said.
“The northern end of the Gold Coast has seen the most of the rainfall so far but we’re certainly looking at more rain on Wednesday before easing on Thursday.”
He said that a sprawling trough system was drifting eastwards before, bringing cooler temperatures.
“We see heavy falls ease over the Easter weekend with some dryer air coming in later in the week,” he said.
“A couple of millimetres might be annoying if you’re out and about over the long weekend but it’s probably not going to be disruptive.”
The Gold Coast recorded its third coldest March day in 30 years on Sunday, with the mercury hovering around 20 degrees.
“Along with the rain we’re seeing notably cooler than average temperatures with the Gold Coast sitting at 24 degrees,” Mr Clapp said.
“Once that band and heavy rain clears we should see the temperatures pick up.”