Australia -- Queensland Weather Update

MELBOURNE - Feb 17/03 - SNS -- The current forecast for the state of Queensland was released by Australia's Bureau of Meteorology.

IDQ1070001
WARNING SUMMARY
Flood warnings are current for the Paroo and Lower Warrego Rivers.
STATE FORECAST
for Tuesday
Scattered showers and thunderstorms in the northern tropics, more frequent about
the Gulf Country and near Torres Strait. A few showers or thunderstorms over the
northwest and far southern districts. A few showers about the tropical east
coast. Generally moderate southeast to northeast winds. 
EXTENDED OUTLOOK
On Wednesday cloud is expected to increase over western districts as the areas
of rain, currently located over the Northern Territory drift eastwards. The
expected pressure pattern is a monsoon trough over northern parts of Cape York
Peninsula linking to a low over the interior of Western Australia. An area of
low pressure in western districts on Wednesday is expected to drift back
westwards into the Northern Territory during Thursday. A ridge of high pressure
along the east coast is expected to be re-enforced during Thursday as a new high
drifts into the southern Tasman Sea. This pattern of high pressure and
relatively mild temperatures along the east coast and warm to hot conditions
with low pressure in western and central interior districts is expected to
continue through the weekend.  
The cloud band in western districts is expected to persist from Wednesday
onwards, tending to contract to far western and southwest parts during Thursday.
Cloud over southern districts on Wednesday may produce some patchy light rain
and then clear during Thursday. 
In the tropics the shower activity about the Herbert & Lower Burdekin is
expected to ease and contract northwards during Wednesday. Winds over east
coastal waters will be moderate onshore during Wednesday, with an increasing
trend generally from Thursday onwards.

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STAT News Service

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