Australia -- Queensland Weather Update

MELBOURNE - Feb 1/03 - SNS -- The current forecast for the state of Queensland was released by Australia's Bureau of Meteorology.

IDQ1070001
WARNING SUMMARY
A gale and strong wind warning has been issued for coastal waters between St
Lawrence and Coolangatta.
A severe weather warning has been issued for coastal and island communities
between Sandy Cape and Coolangatta.  
STATE FORECAST
for Saturday night and Sunday
A few showers and thunderstorms over the northern tropics and through the
central and southern interior contracting westwards a little on Sunday. A few
showers and drizzle areas about the coast south of Fraser island spreading
northwards and into the adjacent inland on Sunday with rain areas developing
about the far southern coast late Sunday. Moderate to fresh SE winds over the
west. Strong to gale force winds developing along the coast south of St Lawrence
tonight and Sunday morning. A high to very high fire danger over the interior.
EXTENDED OUTLOOK
Ex TC Beni will continue to move towards the central Qld coast over the next few
days while the high over the Great Australian Bight will move into the Tasman
Sea on Sunday and then towards New Zealand over the next few days. Consequently,
strong to gale force SE winds will develop along the southern coast during
Sunday and extend northwards to about the Mackay area on Monday. An upper trough
will develop over the southern inland by Monday. This, in conjunction with the
SE winds which will spread across much of southern and central Qld by early next
week will produce widespread areas of rain over the south-east during Monday and
Tuesday. Some moderate to heavy falls will occur initially about the far
southern coast but will extend into other areas of the south-east on Tuesday. 
Initially over the inland, any shower and storm activity will be over the
central and western areas of the state. However, as the upper trough develops
this activity will extend over most remaining inland areas and the tropical
coast. This activity will become more scattered on Wednesday over central areas
of the state as the upper trough, in a weakening mode, moves into the area. A
clearance will develop over the south-west on Tuesday. 

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STAT News Service

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