By TERRY WEST
July bought some interesting weather to the Southern Downs and Granite Belt with two distinct snow falls within a week of each other.
Snow had not fallen in the region since 1984 and this year it made up for it with a large fall across Stanthorpe and up to Dalveen on the northern edge of the Granite Belt.
Warwick broke a record on 17 July with a lowest maximum of only 8.6c but rainfall was below average with only 20mm recorded for the month in Warwick.
During August, cold fronts are expected to develop to the south of the continent and generate rain for southern and western parts of the country but it will not affect Southern Queensland.
Only one rain event is expected from the north during the second week of August.
The remainder of the month will be mainly dry.
Temperatures during August should remain near average although there is a 64 per cent chance of exceeding the minimum temperature for the month.
Frost can be expected during the first half of August, mainly in the south of the region, while warmer temperatures may be experienced later in the month.
Some models are indicating a rare August cyclone to develop around the Solomon Islands early in the month and at this stage may move towards the south-west.
It will not affect Australia’s mainland but would certainly be one for the history books.
The main factor influencing our weather over the next few months is a strengthening El Nino.
Monitoring has indicated the El Nino is strengthening and tropical Pacific Ocean temperatures have been one degree above average for 10 consecutive weeks. This will lead to a drier than normal spring and summer for the Southern Downs and Granite Belt.
All indications show a continued strengthening with +2c expected by the end of August.
This El Nino is expected to continue into early 2016 leading to a dry season for farmers in our region.
