M5
Moderator
IT'S December in Queensland and the beaches should be full of half-naked sun worshippers.
Instead, the coldest December temperatures for more than a century have forced holidaymakers indoors to throw on a jumper.
But the long-awaited rain has done little to bring real relief to the southeast. No more than 20mm has fallen in key dam catchment areas.
The 19.2C maximum reported in Brisbane's city centre on Wednesday was matched only by an unseasonable all-time low of 18.8C recorded in 1888.
Emerald, in central Queensland, broke a 100-year record, with the mercury reaching a maximum of only 16.7C on Wednesday, compared with 18.3C in 1907.
Yesterday the greying skies meant Brisbane struggled to hit a maximum of 24C – still well below December's average temperature of 29.6C.
Weather bureau forecaster Tony Auden said cool air from the snow-capped areas of Victoria and Tasmania and some prolonged cloud cover over most of Queensland had kept temperatures low.
Drizzling rain tempted droves of book worms to the Avid Reader Bookshop and Cafe in Boundary St, West End, to curl up with a good book and warming coffee.
Avid Reader bookseller Chris Currie said they had no trouble filling the tables in the past two days as patrons ordered hot drinks.
"On Wednesday we even had to take down the cafe sign because we had literally run out of ingredients it was that busy," Mr Currie said.
And the morning chills have reminded travellers heading to cold climates for holidays to stock up on their thermals, with Snow Biz Ski and Sport shop in Albert St doing a roaring trade. Manager Paula Steadman said travellers had been keenly buying ski jackets, ski pants and thermal underwear in preparation for new year holidays.
But the rain won't last, according to the experts. Weather bureau forecaster Ben Annells said only light rain was predicted for southeast Queensland this week, with heavier falls in the far north.
Instead, the coldest December temperatures for more than a century have forced holidaymakers indoors to throw on a jumper.
But the long-awaited rain has done little to bring real relief to the southeast. No more than 20mm has fallen in key dam catchment areas.
The 19.2C maximum reported in Brisbane's city centre on Wednesday was matched only by an unseasonable all-time low of 18.8C recorded in 1888.
Emerald, in central Queensland, broke a 100-year record, with the mercury reaching a maximum of only 16.7C on Wednesday, compared with 18.3C in 1907.
Yesterday the greying skies meant Brisbane struggled to hit a maximum of 24C – still well below December's average temperature of 29.6C.
Weather bureau forecaster Tony Auden said cool air from the snow-capped areas of Victoria and Tasmania and some prolonged cloud cover over most of Queensland had kept temperatures low.
Drizzling rain tempted droves of book worms to the Avid Reader Bookshop and Cafe in Boundary St, West End, to curl up with a good book and warming coffee.
Avid Reader bookseller Chris Currie said they had no trouble filling the tables in the past two days as patrons ordered hot drinks.
"On Wednesday we even had to take down the cafe sign because we had literally run out of ingredients it was that busy," Mr Currie said.
And the morning chills have reminded travellers heading to cold climates for holidays to stock up on their thermals, with Snow Biz Ski and Sport shop in Albert St doing a roaring trade. Manager Paula Steadman said travellers had been keenly buying ski jackets, ski pants and thermal underwear in preparation for new year holidays.
But the rain won't last, according to the experts. Weather bureau forecaster Ben Annells said only light rain was predicted for southeast Queensland this week, with heavier falls in the far north.