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 night and Wednesday
Scattered showers and thunderstorms in the northern tropics, more frequent with
some moderate to locally heavy falls about the Gulf Country, Torres Strait and
northern Cape York Peninsula. A few showers or thunderstorms over the NW, far
west and far southern districts. A few showers about the east coast. Generally
moderate southeast to northeast winds. 
EXTENDED OUTLOOK
The monsoon trough is expected to remain near Torres Strait until the weekend at
least, generating further showers and thunderstorms with locally heavy falls
over Cape York Peninsula. A few showers should continue about the east tropical
coast and ranges carried by a moist onshore airstream.
The trough lying across the northern New South Wales coast is expected to stall
near the Queensland border. This system will produce cloudy weather in border
areas with showers or rain areas and isolated thunderstorms. Some moderate falls
are possible, more likely in the southeast and over Northern NSW. The southern
high is expected to shift over the Tasman Sea on Thursday, and build a strong
ridge along the east coast south of about Fraser Island. 
During Friday and over the weekend a strong pressure gradient from the Tasman
Sea high is expected cause squally showers and rain areas with fresh to strong
easterly winds  over the SE coast districts south of Fraser Island. Swells are
expected to build during the weekend with rough seas. North of Fraser Island
lighter winds and only very isolated showers, becoming more frequent north of
about Cairns. Fresh easterly winds are expected to move westwards to the Darling
Downs and Granite Belt with some showers mostly east of, or on the ranges. 
Most of inland Queensland can expect fine weather leading up to the weekend with
a few showers and thunderstorms confined to western and southern districts.

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STAT News Service

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