Parts of Queensland shivered from colder weather than Victoria this week, and the Northern Territory has been busy breaking its own winter records. But an explosion of ice will soon return the cold where it belongs.
Key points:
- Victoria has seen the start of the coldest winter since the 1940s
- The temperature in Alice Springs has dropped below zero degrees for a record number of days in a row
- Meteorologists say there is more cold and windy weather
A major cold front with harmful winds, rain and snow is sweeping the southern states.
Senior Meteorological Office predictor Miriam Bradbury said the system would affect Victoria, Tasmania, southeastern South Australia and southern NSW over the weekend and next week.
“We already have a severe weather warning current for parts of Victoria due to harmful winds that develop over high parts from Saturday to Sunday, and we may be able to see these warning areas extending to south-east NSW later the weekend, ”Bradbury said.
“We are [also] we will see a very low snow level pushing these parts of the southeast, especially Tasmania, until Sunday through Monday in the early hours with snow possibly as low as 500 meters. “
June was unusually cold for places like Far North Queensland. (Bureau of Meteorology)
Winter counterattacks
Mrs Bradbury said it had been a cold winter in much of south-east Australia.
Alice Springs had the coldest Friday morning since 2016, with minus 4 degrees Celsius.
“Every night since July 3 has dropped below zero degrees in Alice Springs,” Bradbury said.
“And Victoria has seen the onset of the coldest winter since the 1940s.”
While the office will wait until the end of the season to see how winter 2022 settles into the broader scheme, meteorologists are enjoying this current explosion of cold, at least from a scientific point of view.
“It’s definitely very interesting for us as forecasters,” Ms. Bradbury said.
“High pressure systems at this time of year provide a very stable climate so they don’t move very quickly. So we see that it continues day after day.”
Mount Field National Park in Tasmania is no stranger to the cold, with snow falling in parts like Tarn Shelf. (Provided by: Brendan Moodie)
La Nena to ‘reassert itself’
Professor Emeritus of climatologist Roger Stone of the University of South Queensland said it was not uncommon “every 10 or 20 years” to have this type of colder outbreak.
“Everything is associated with big gusts of cold air suddenly and it tends to give us short, intense winters like we’re having right now,” he said.
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Professor Stone said an increase in ice around Antarctica has caused a lot of snow in the southern Alps, causing “what we call the Thredbo index to rise”.
He said humid conditions will continue with the current La Niña system which is expected to be reaffirmed in the latter part of winter, until the autumn of 2023.
“It is quite rare [for La Niña] to last three years. We get them about three times every 75 years and we haven’t experienced much in the last few years. So it took us by surprise, ”Professor Stone said.
Raise a glass in the cold
At Ashton Hills Vineyard in East Adelaide, winemaker Liam Van Pelt is used to shaking during the winter, but he doesn’t complain.
“Up here it’s just cold, probably a little wetter than usual,” he said.
Oenologist Liam Van Pelt says the cool climate is perfect for growing pinot noir grapes. (Supplied by: Ashton Hills Vineyard)
Wine lovers have accepted the cooler temperatures and have flocked to the vineyard to warm themselves from within.
Van Pelt said it had been a welcome boost.
“We’ve seen a real increase in tourism in the last two months. The cold doesn’t seem to deter too many people,” he said.
“There’s nothing better than sitting by the fire and watching some fog soar one afternoon with a glass of red.”
Banana benders get the coats
Back in the sunny state, Queensland residents shouldn’t leave their hats off yet with temperatures in the southern parts of the state dropping to zero or below this weekend.
Stanthorpe, Warwick, Goondiwindi and St George, and north of Chinchilla, Kingaroy and Rome will wake up with icy mornings.
But for those looking for a winter break, it can be safe to venture north again.
Daily highs of 26-27 degrees are expected throughout the week in Cairns.