Far Northerners sent running for jumpers
SARAH NICHOLSON AND JACK LAWRIE
FAR North Queensland recorded plunging temperatures across the board on Friday, with several places hitting their lowest lows in years.
Temperatures plunged below zero on the Tablelands with the first frost of the season blanketing the ground in white.
Conditions are expected to warm up from Saturday onward, with the Bureau of Meteorology predicting minimum temperatures to rise by up to 3C.
Forecaster Sam Campbell said south-easterly winds would be sending moisture up the Far North coast, putting an end to the cool dry air mass that has been lowering temperatures in the region.
“We’re forecasting a minimum of 13 on Saturday, 15 from Sunday and 17 on Monday in Cairns,” he said.
“Cairns Airport got down to 9.5 on Friday before 6am, the coldest July since 2011.
“We’ll start to see a bit of moisture and cloud, with the slight chance of a shower on Monday, moderate by Tuesday. Wednesday looks to be the wettest day, with a high chance of showers from Cairns south to the Cassowary Coast.”
On the Tablelands, the mercury sank to -0.1C in East Barron at 7.30am – with the Bureau of Meteorology reporting the “feels like” temperature was sitting at -2.9C – while
Kalunga near Herberton recorded a minimum of -4.9C.
Malanda Falls Caravan Park caretaker Janine Rielly said many of those occupying caravans and camping sites reported “lots of numb toes” during the early hours when the “feels like” temperature in that part of the Tablelands dropped to -3C.
“People don’t realise it gets so cold up here so come unprepared for these temperatures and are surprised to discover we get a true winter here,” she said.
“It’s not unusual for those staying with us from Cairns to dash back down the hill to get their winter clothes when we have a cold snap like this, and I went to Big W today and it was packed with people buying warm things to wear.
“Everyone will be out playing cricket in the sunshine in the afternoon and it will be a shock when it gets dark, but then there’s a good excuse to sit beside a camp fire.”
Shane Kennedy from the Bureau of Meteorology said cool, dry air and light winds were responsible for the early morning freeze around the southern Tablelands.
“A wide area experienced temperatures below 1C, with many more at zero or just under, and there was widespread frost,” he said.
“Mareeba recorded 5.6C, which was the coolest July morning since July 30, 2001, and it was the coldest morning in general since June 30, 2007.”