More rain forecast for parts of Queensland but weather to clear this weekend
A trough that was supposed to deliver showers and thunderstorms yesterday arrived 24 hours late and is forecast to dump up to 30 millimetres of rain along the coast.
A pulse of easterly swell has brought days of large waves to the south-east.
Surfers have been enjoying the conditions, and the swell has helped to replenish the sand banks and beaches carved away by Tropical Cyclone Alfred.
Scattered showers are expected further inland too, with rainfall totals of up to 20mm across the Maranoa, Warrego, Darling Downs, Central Highlands, Coal Fields, Wide Bay and Capricornia regions.
Storm activity across the Sunshine Coast and Moreton Bay islands on Thursday morning saw isolated falls of between 50 and 100mm.
While more storms could be on the cards today, Daniel Hayes from the Bureau of Meteorology said the weather should clear up on the weekend.
"It is expected to be pushing off the coast by Saturday, and by the afternoon that should be clearing away," he said.
"We have had a fairly wet start to the month of May."
Community sport has been feeling the effects of an unseasonally wet autumn.
Weather has forced the closure of almost every council-owned field on the Gold Coast, meaning training and even some games were cancelled for football clubs this week.
In the state's north, residents are enjoying the sunshine after record-breaking rains earlier this year.
Mr Hayes said he was celebrating his second day of blue skies in Cairns.
"Generally speaking, there has been lot less rain and a lot more blue and that's the pattern we're expecting to be seeing in the coming days," he said.
Meanwhile, southern Queensland has been told to prepare for a cold snap as a band of dry, cool air moves north next week.
"Parts of the central and southern inland may see temperatures getting well down into the single figures and maybe even a few places under 5 degrees [Celsius]," Mr Hayes said.
The rain has thrown a spanner in the works for event organisers who were hoping for dry conditions.
More than 50,000 music fans are expected to descend on the Gold Coast for the annual Blues on Broadbeach festival over the next three days.
Festival director Mark Duckworth said dealing with the elements was part and parcel of outdoor events, but he hoped the rain would not keep people away.
"We try to be really careful in the green spaces," he said.
"It's part of the gig — bring your poncho if it's raining and come and have a great time."
American singer-songwriter Eli "Paperboy" Reed is performing at the festival and said he admired fans who turned out in the rain.
"Those are the kind of people that you want to play music for. They're willing to get their hands dirty to enjoy themselves," Reed said.
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