Saturday, 1 August 2015 - Monthly Climate Summary for Queensland - Product code IDCKGC14R0

Queensland in July 2015: Cold days in the south; dry across the west, central and southeast districts

Much of southern Queensland recorded cooler-than-average mean maxima in July, while parts of northern and central Queensland had warmer-than-average days. Snow was reported at various locations in the Granite Belt on the 16th and 17th. July rainfall was above average in the far north, and parts of southern Queensland, while it was much drier than average in parts of western, central and southeastern districts.

• Snow was observed in parts of the Granite Belt during the middle of the month
• Cold days throughout the month;
• Widespread frost extending as far north as the Atherton Tablelands
• Below average rainfall in the west, central and southeast districts
• Wet in the Cape York Peninsula, and parts of southern Queensland

Rainfall across the State was mixed. Areas of the north tropical coast recorded in excess of 100 mm during July, resulting in above-average rainfall for the month. Moist, southeast to easterly onshore flow throughout the month was mostly responsible for these totals. Areas north and south of the this area accumulated between 10 mm and 25 mm, with some places recording their lowest rainfall since 1974. Rainfall totals along much of the east coast were near average except for areas of the Wide Bay and Burnett, and the southeast coast. The Cape York Peninsula and parts of southern Queensland had above average July rainfall. In contrast, large areas of western, central and southeast Queensland had below-average July rainfall, and some of these areas are already experiencing long-term rainfall deficiencies. 

At the start of the month, moderate rainfall totals across the Cape York Peninsula and southern Queensland were the result of a surface trough stretching from the Gulf of Carpentaria through western Queensland. Rainfall over parts of the Capricornia and central coast, southeast and southern Queensland between the 23rd and 25th was due to a low pressure trough pushing eastwards across the State.

Overall, mean maximum temperatures were cooler than average across southern and far southwestern Queensland. There were some very cool days during the month, with some locations recording their lowest daily maximum temperature on record on the 17th. Snow was reported in various locations in the Granite Belt. Sleet was reported at Eukey late on the 16th, turning to snow; falling heavily at times early on the 17th. There were multiple reports of snow settling at elevations above 800 m in the Granite Belt, with accumulations around 5 cm in Stanthorpe and Eukey.There were reports of brief snow flurries as far north as Toowoomba on the morning of the 17th, consistent with temperatures near 0 °C at the time. While snow in elevated parts of southeastern Queensland in not uncommon (the last time light snow was reported was at Eukey on 25th June 2013), the snow accumulations around Stanthorpe were the heaviest to have occurred since 1984. See the climate update "A significant low-level snow event across eastern Australia" for further information.

In contrast, near the end of the month, several locations recorded their highest July temperature on record on the 26th. A strengthening high pressure system moved eastward over southern Australia and this extended a dry airmass into southern and western Queensland in the wake of a surface trough. Warmer-than-usual mean maximum temperatures were experienced across northern and central parts, and in eastern parts north of the Wide Bay and Burnett region. 

Mean minimum temperatures were cooler than average in parts of western  districts. Areas in the Gulf Country, the central west and along the north tropical coast experienced warmer-than-usual mean minima, while remaining parts of Queensland had near-average overnight temperatures for July. On the 18th, the town of Seventeen Seventy had its coolest night in 29 years, as a series of strong cold fronts affected mostly eastern parts of Queensland between the 11th and 17th.

Tropical cyclone Raquel formed to the north of the Solomon Islands (approximately 2000 km away from the Queensland coast) early on the morning of the 1st July, but posed no threat to the Queensland coast. The system was downgraded to a tropical low the following day.

Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top

Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top

Maps
	Observed	Anomaly	Decile rank
Total rainfall
Mean daily maximum temperatures
Mean daily minimum temperatures

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* note: there are gaps in the historical record at this site, so it is possible a lower value has gone unreported.

Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top

Extremes Maps Records Summaries Important notes the top