IT’S RUNNING HOT AND COLD
TOWNSVILLE sweltered through its hottest September day since 2003 when the mercury topped 35C on Tuesday.
While Townsville baked, further south there was a winter chill with Toowoomba recording its coldest September day since 2011 with a maximum of 15.3C.
But Townsville will go to the other extreme, with the winter woollies out in force with an expected minimum of 14C before warming up towards a pleasant weekend.
Weather bureau forecaster Helen Reid said the diverse temperatures across the state were caused by a powerful trough.
“We did have a trough move through Queensland over the past couple of days and normally they don’t make it all the way to the North but this one has,” Dr Reid said.
“It has been a powerful system with a lot of energy which has brought in those strong and gusty winds and also some cold air and it is also very dry.
“So while Townsville had a very hot day on Tuesday it is not the same yesterday as that change of air mass really penetrates all the way to the north.”
Dr Reid said by the weekend the city would return to a more normal September weather pattern.
“The weekend will see sunny skies with the winds coming in from the eastnortheast which will bring in a little bit of moisture so you may small patches of cloud lurking around,” she said.
“It looks like it will be a nice weekend with temperatures getting up to up around 29C both Saturday and Sunday.”