Southwestern Queenslanders warned of potential snow this weekend
Forecast models indicate Saturday morning is shaping up as the most likely time snow could fall down to elevations of 1200m.
Sky News meteorologist Rob Sharpe says the chance of snow will largely depend on the position of an approaching low pressure system.
'There is definitely the potential for snow in southern Queensland this weekend,' he said.
'It is going to be a little bit touch and go, but it definitely cannot be ruled out.
'There is going to be a low pressure system and exactly how it guides the rain across NSW and Queensland will govern whether there is going to be any snow in southern Queensland.'
Mr Sharpe said the mountain peaks along the Queensland-NSW border would be the most likely locations for snow.
'We're talking about your usual suspects, the tallest mountains in southern Queensland,' he said.
'The tallest mountain in southern Queensland is Mount Superbus, at 1375m.
'Even in the wetter scenario, it's a decent chance to get the snow right up at the top.
'Snow could fall as low as about 1200m, there is some significant elevation there in the Southern Downs.'
Mr Sharpe said the more southerly the low pressure system, the better the chance for snowfall.
'If the low pressure system that's bringing the rain to NSW is too far north, then it will bring rain to Queensland and the air won't be quite cold enough,' he said.
'There won't be enough cold dry air mixing into the system on the Queensland border.
'But if the low is further south, and there's less rain to Queensland, there's actually going to be colder air in that system, and therefore better potential for snow.'
Snow fell near Stanthorpe last year, with footage by Stanthorpe Holiday Park capturing a flurry along the New England Highway at Severnlea.
Outside of Queensland Bureau of Meteorology Senior meteorologist Angus Hines predicted 'patchy falls' across much of South Australia and NSW on Tuesday, with a chance of rain in Victoria and Tasmania.
'Not as much rain as the recent wet weather event, but a nice follow up of 2-10mm over broad areas,' Mr Hines said.
'This weather system will have some colder air with it, and a good few centimetres of snow in the mountains.
'This will clear on Wednesday, although cold winds and patchy showers continue.
'This means further sporadic and light wet weather for most places south of a line from Perth across to Port Macquarie.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
ABC News
36 minutes ago
- ABC News
Aftermath of heavy rain and damaging winds in parts of NSW
A road is flooded in Rothbury while buildings' roofs are damaged in Kempsey after wild weather hit parts of NSW.
News.com.au
3 hours ago
- News.com.au
Woman missing as Northern NSW faces flooding danger, wild winds and rain across east coast
An urgent search is underway after a woman was swept away overnight in rising floodwaters in Northern NSW. Two women in their 20s were driving about 16km north of Cessnock in the NSW Hunter Region when their Mini Countryman became stuck as they tried to drive through floodwaters. Both women exited the car, and the passenger was swept away. The 27-year-old driver was safe. The search was suspended overnight and has resumed today. Rainfall totals as high as 137mm have triggered widespread emergency responses across NSW and southeast Queensland, after a barrage of wild weather hit both states. The NSW State Emergency Service has issued more than 40 flood warnings north of Newcastle, with parts of one town urged to evacuate immediately. Six streets in the Upper Hunter town of Scone were ordered to evacuate by 4am Sunday after 'major flooding'. 'If you remain in the area, you may become trapped without power, water, and other essential services,' the SES has warned residents. 'It may be too dangerous for NSW SES to rescue you, and buildings may not be able to withstand the impact of flood water.' The NSW SES responded to more than 1,455 incidents caused by the severe weather, including more than 100 vehicles stuck in snow on the New England Highway, Waterfall Way, Norris Drive and Grafton Road. 'Unprecedented snowfall was recorded around Armidale and Guyra yesterday afternoon, creating dangerous road conditions,' the SES reported. The conditions are expected to ease on Sunday afternoon, but high levels of snow will make driving dangerous and there remains a risk of riverine flooding. Bureau of Meteorology senior meteorologist Miriam Bradbury said snow had been seen as far north as the Granite Belt in southeast Queensland. 'Now all of this snow, particularly across the northern tablelands, did create some fairly dangerous driving conditions and some roads are still closed,' Ms Bradbury said. 'Conditions will gradually ease through the course of today, but they'll ease more rapidly overnight tonight into Monday 'By Monday, we're really expecting fairly isolated showers across the East Coast, with wind starting to pull back as well. 'However, we are likely to see hazardous surf persisting through to the middle of the coming week, with flooding likely to continue as well, our riverine catchments are saturated and they will take a few days to start to come down from those flood levels that are expected.' She went on to warn that a cold front hitting Western Australia could bring strong winds and thunderstorms. 'These winds will be ramping up about the southwest coast through this morning,' Ms Bradbury said. 'The forecast for Western Australia today indicates widespread showers and thunderstorms as the second cold front moves through, sweeping across those southwestern parts of the state. 'Thunderstorm could become severe through the course of today. 'We may also see small hail about the southwest coast of Western Australia today, including around the Perth area.'
The Australian
13 hours ago
- The Australian
Weather: Snow falls in Queensland, NSW causing highway chaos
The SES said snow fell at depths never seen before in parts of northern NSW. Snow blanketed parts of New South Wales not usually known for icy conditions and flurries fell in southeast Queensland on Saturday as heavy rain battered other parts of the country. The State Emergency Service said the snow that fell in the Northern Tablelands region was at depths never seen before – up to 50mm in some areas – forcing it to respond to reports of up to 100 cars stuck, including on the New England Highway. Heavy snow was also recorded in Walcha, Uralla, Ebor, Armidale, Guyra, Glen Innes and Moonbi Ranges, the SES said. Brenden Gough told 7News from the New England Highway that he and his family had left Brisbane at 3am Saturday to catch a glimpse of snow. 'I have never seen snow before in my entire life and it really is a surreal experience,' he said. Videos and photos circulating on social media showed snowball fights, snowmen making and kangaroos hopping through white-cloaked bushland on the outskirts of Armidale. Queensland's Granite Belt, on the border with NSW, also recorded short-lived flurries of snow on Saturday afternoon. Rain was hammering other parts of NSW, including the Hunter Region and Mid North Coast, on Saturday with a low pressure system forcing the Bureau of Meteorology to issue a string of warnings about potentially dangerous weather. 'It has been a cold and wet week across New South Wales, with showers and rain pushing onto the east coast in particular,' BOM meteorologist Helen Reid said. 'The rain and the wind is expected to peak (on Saturday) with the Mid North Coast, the Upper Hunter and parts of the Northern Tablelands likely to get the heaviest falls.' A severe weather warning was in place for parts of the Upper Hunter, Mid North Coast, Northern Tablelands and the North West slopes and plains for heavy rainfall that may lead to flash flooding and damaging wind gusts in excess of 90km/hour. The bureau has also issued a flood watch from Coffs Harbour to Newcastle, stretching inland, warning of possible minor to moderate flooding. Many catchments in those areas are still wet due to heavy rain in the last few months. — NSW SES (@NSWSES) August 2, 2025 There is also a flood warning in place for the Peel River at Tamworth. 'Moderate to heavy rainfall has been observed in the catchment of the Peel River during Saturday,' the bureau's warning said. 'River level rises are occurring along the upper reaches of the Peel River and its tributaries, with levels at Tamworth currently near the minor flood level (3.0 metres). 'The Peel River at Tamworth is expected to exceed the moderate flood level late Saturday evening, with further rises likely overnight due to forecast rainfall.' The heavy rainfall also caused public transport chaos in the Hunter. On Saturday, trains were not running on the Hunter Line between Scone, Dungog and Newcastle due to flooding at Sandgate. Meanwhile, parts of Queensland will also be hit with strong winds extending to all coasts between the border and the Illawarra on Sunday. A separate cold front is also forecast in Western Australia bringing rain, thunderstorms and hail. A severe weather warning for damaging winds and heavy rainfall is in place for areas around Perth, Bunbury and Albany. Darwin is set to be warm and sunny reaching 31C, while Brisbane is expecting showers and sunny spells, reaching 19C. Canberra will be cool with a top of 13C with patchy drizzle. Melbourne and Hobart are expecting to stay overcast with some sun and highs of 15C and 14C respectively. Adelaide should see some sun, reaching a high of 14C. Nation An overwhelming majority of Labor members in Victoria demand the Albanese government immediately recognise a Palestinian state, increase sanctions on Israel and suspend AUKUS. Indigenous In a blistering speech, the Yothu Yindi Foundation boss called for 'crunching systemic change' to address a crisis that 'is getting worse not better'.
