Queensland Long Weekend Weather: Storms to Hit South as North Enjoys Better Boating Conditions

Severe storms are expected to hit Queensland's southern region over the long weekend, while the north of the state will experience coastal showers. The King's Birthday public holiday on Monday will bring a decrease in winds, leading to better boating conditions in the tropics and some relief for areas with a higher fire danger.

Storms to hit southern Queensland

Bureau of Meteorology senior forecaster Felim Hanniffy said the weekend watch-point for Queensland would be storms beginning today. "October historically is the start of the higher risk weather season," he explained. "[There] will be the chance of some thunderstorm activity in the far south-west and southern interior, more particularly near the New South Wales border as we go into Saturday."

As the state heads into the early part of next week, there will be the potential for increased shower and thunderstorm activity around the south-east. "That is going to herald a more unsettled and stormy period of weather around the south-east and parts of central Queensland," Mr Hanniffy said.

Storm activity driven by troughs

Mr Hanniffy said a trough moving eastward across southern Queensland and another system in central Queensland was driving the storm activity. "That is going to increase instability as well, and we are looking at a number of days of showers and storms in the south-east," he said. "[We] could not rule out that some of that activity could be severe during this period as well."

Improved boating conditions

On the public holiday, persistent and fresh south-easterlies will drop off along the North Tropical Coast, improving boating conditions. "We have seen over the seven days to Friday morning, particularly on the Cassowary Coast, daily showers," Mr Hanniffy said. "That was driven by a firm ridge along the east coast and those brisk south-easterlies in play."

By Monday, the wind should be a lot lighter about the North Tropical Coast; so certainly better weather for boaties to come.

Temperatures trending warmer in south, cooler in north

As Queensland pushes further into spring, temperatures are trending warmer than average in the south and cooler than average in the north. Average temperatures are expected to return after the long weekend. "Across parts of the southern interiors and inland south-east [temperatures will be] ranging 2 to 5 degrees above average," Mr Hanniffy said.

Most other areas, particularly in the north, are looking at temperatures being on the cooler side for this time of year. Particularly across those areas of the north-east where there is a little bit of cloud and the chance of those showers around.