Crowds at the opening weekend of Queensland’s biggest agricultural show were met with plenty of sunshine and temperatures reminiscent of spring today.
President of the Royal National Agricultural and Industrial Association of Queensland (RNA), David Thomas, said this weekend’s weather is “just perfect for the Ekka”.
“There’s a great vibe around the show this year, I think everyone wants to get out and have a great time,” he said.
“Luckily, Mother Nature’s playing very fine with us [in terms of] the weather as well.”
Meteorologist with the Bureau of Meteorology, Kimba Wong, said the warm weather will continue in the coming days.
“We are definitely seeing these warmer temperatures coming through due to the influence of a north westerly wind regime at the moment,” she told ABC News.
“So what we’ve got is [a] ridge of high pressure extending across southern Queensland and that’s directing the winds across the south east.
“We are looking at temperatures reaching the high twenties by Monday and Tuesday and, for some areas inland from the coast, reaching around 30 degrees.”
Ms Wong said a number of suburbs across south east Queensland will experience “the warmest August temperatures during the day … since about 2017”.
The Gold Coast saw a top of 27 degrees yesterday — the warmest August day in four years — while Brisbane’s western suburbs will start their week with temperatures up to 29 degrees.
Increased risk of fire
Ms Wong said the favourable weather has led to plenty of vegetation growth, with Queenslanders warned to stay vigilant as we move further into bushfire season.
On Saturday afternoon, a watch and act alert was issued for properties between Wattle Drive, Gulera Road, Ducklo Gulera Road and Kumbarilla Road, near Dalby.
Firefighters worked to contain the “large, fast-moving fire” but QFES warned, while no properties are currently at risk, “conditions could get worse”.
Is the warm weather here to stay?
But don’t start packing away your winter clothes and bedding just yet, because the region will return to cooler temperatures by mid-week.
“That will drop down to 23 degrees on Wednesday, so about a six degree drop there,” Ms Wong warned.
“Minimum temperatures won’t see such a noticeable change, and we are still forecasting overnight temperatures to stick around the low-to mid-teens.”
As Queenslanders experience the warmest weather we’ve seen since Easter, some may be asking if the country is on the brink of an El Nino.
Ms Wong said the announcement is considered likely to happen in the coming weeks.