Dry, warm winter set to continue

QUEENSLAND’S start to winter has been one of the driest and warmest on record.

Average maximum temperatures for the month of June in the Sunshine State were the highest since 2001.

And the warm conditions have continued with Cloncurry and Julia Creek both recording their warmest minimum July temperatures on Thursday night.

Farmers in the state’s central districts have also suffered below average winter rainfall.

The Bureau of Meteorology has warned these conditions could persist for the rest of the season according to seasonal forecast models.

“( A) very high pressure over southern Australia will continue for the next few months, and for those westerly winds to shift even further towards Antarctica and away from Australia,” the bureau said.

“This means the dry conditions we’ve seen in southern Australia are likely to continue e for the rest of the winter. While sunny days in winter soundd lovely, this outlook has implications for many who look for r winter rainfall in southern areas, like farmers, water managers and fire services.”

The southeast was the only y part of the state that saw above e average rainfall during June.