Some Queenslanders are bracing for a possible once-in-a-decade overnight snowstorm, following sub-zero temperatures and freak windstorms that have swept across parts of the state.
The Bureau of Meteorology has warned that wet and cold conditions could lead to snowfall north of the NSW border from yesterday afternoon.
“It’s certainly cold enough,” a Met Office spokesman said.
“It just depends on if we can get moisture and some rain in the granite belt and there’s certainly a chance of that during the afternoon and evening and overnight as well.”
The warning comes as all parts of the state are feeling freezing temperatures.
The coldest place in the state was Auki, near Toowoomba, with temperatures dropping to -3.2C, while Hughenden had its coldest July day since 2016 with 0.7C, and Mt Isa dropped to 1.3C.
The temperature in Stanthorpe dropped to zero degrees yesterday morning.
A windstorm yesterday afternoon tore down signs and cut power to about 20,000 homes from the Sunshine Coast to the Gold Coast.
Logan and Morton Bay were the worst affected areas with 6,000 people each left without power, while Energex warned that sustained winds could hamper restoration work.
In Brisbane, inner city suburbs experienced wind gusts of up to 70km/h, while higher ground such as Mount Coot-tha reached 90km/h.
The winds even ripped a 20-metre-tall spotlight off its foundations, causing it to fall onto a nearby roof.
In Kangaroo Point, the roof of the popular Joey’s Cafe collapsed, and in Chapel Hill, a tree smashed through the side of a house and nearly hit its occupants, who were home at the time.
Stormy and cold weather conditions are expected to continue today and tomorrow.
