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 for coastal waters between St Lawrence and
Coolangatta.
A severe weather warning for coastal and island communities between Sandy Cape
and Coolangatta.  
STATE FORECAST
for Sunday
A few showers and thunderstorms over the northern tropics and in a broad band
through the central and southern interior. A few showers about the east coast,
chiefly south of Fraser island and over the SE inland. Strong to gale force
winds along the coast south of St Lawrence. Mostly moderate winds elsewhere. 
EXTENDED OUTLOOK
Ex Tropical Cyclone Beni will continue to move towards the central Queensland 
coast over the next few days while the high moves across the Tasman Sea towards
New Zealand. Consequently, strong to gale force SE winds will continue on the
south coast early into the week 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 across southern and central Queensland 
will produce widespread areas of rain over the SE 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 SE 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 SW on Tuesday. 

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STAT News Service

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