Weather News

Brisbane on target for coldest spell in more than decade

Brisbane has just had its coldest run of days in four years and is on target to make it the coldest run in more than a decade, according to weatherzone.com.au.

The city has now failed to warm to 20 degrees for four days in a row, making it the equal longest spell below that temperature since 2008. In winter 2010 there were also four consecutive days this cold.

If it stays colder than 20 degrees on Wednesday and Thursday it will become the longest run below 20 since at least 1999, It will beat the five-day run below 20 degrees in July 2008.

Today (Tuesday) has been the coldest of the last four days and the coldest day in a year. By 3pm it had only reached a maximum of 16.1 degrees and that was just after 9am. Since then it has mostly been below 15 degrees due to steady rain.

"Cloud has streamed down from the north with help from a developing low pressure trough and increasingly cold air above. The cloud has kept the warmth of the sun away and now rain is making it even colder," Weatherzone meteorologist Brett Dutschke said.

"Wednesday may even be colder than today due to cloudy skies and heavier rain. The sun may not make an appearance on Thursday either, which will also struggle to be warmer than today. Lengthy, warming sunny breaks are not likely until Friday, after an offshore low moves further away. This low pressure system will also bring stronger winds and larger surf to the Southeast Coast during the next few days," Dutschke said.

"It's a fairly unusual set-up, being a slow-moving and long-lasting system, which has been aided by a warmer-than-normal Coral Sea. The Sea is only slightly warmer than normal, but warm enough to help the trough develop and then provide extra moisture for southeasterly winds to catch onto."

"By the time the rain clears on Friday, Brisbane should have about 30-to-60 millimetres with potential for more than 100mm. If the city doesn't get 100mm, somewhere in the surrounding area should."

With more than 60mm already this month, it should become the wettest June in at least four years, possibly the wettest June since 1999.

This has also been the wettest start to a year since 1999. More than 870mm has been recorded so far, 300mm more than the January-to-June average during the last 13 years.

- Weatherzone

© Weatherzone 2012

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