Australia -- Queensland Weather Update

MELBOURNE - Dec 24/08 - SNS -- The current forecast for the state of Queensland was released by Australia's Bureau of Meteorology.

IDQ1070001
WARNING SUMMARY
Nil.
STATE FORECAST
for Thursday
Isolated showers and thunderstorms chiefly in the afternoon and evening in a
band from the north-west to the south-east. Generally fine elsewhere apart from
isolated showers developing about the east tropical coast north of Cooktown.
Mostly light to moderate SE to NE winds.
EXTENDED OUTLOOK
A tropical low is presently located over the Solomon Sea. This low is expected
to move westwards across the north-west Coral Sea during the rest of the week
and move over far northern Cape York Peninsula during Saturday. This low will
bring some rain heavy at times to far northern Cape York Peninsula and Torres
Strait beginning late on Friday and then clearing Sunday morning. As well, winds
will become quite fresh through the area. The ridge along the east coast will
strengthen a little on Friday and then relax over the weekend as a frontal
system moves into south-eastern Australia and across the tasman Sea early next
week. However, the inland trough will remain anchored over the west of the state
and continue to trigger showers and storms. An upper trough will move across NSW
on Saturday and will increase the uplift across the south of the state. As a
result the showers and storms in the south will increase to rain and storms on
Saturday and then clear early Sunday. This upper trough will be preceded by some
middle to high cloud which will move across the south-west on Friday. Some light
rain will occur with this cloud.

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STAT News Service