Australia -- Queensland Weather Update

MELBOURNE - Feb 9/09 - SNS -- The current forecast for the state of Queensland was released by Australia's Bureau of Meteorology.

IDQ1070001
WARNING SUMMARY
1. Flood warnings are current for the Burdekin, Haughton, Herbert, Tully and
Murray Rivers.
2. Flood warnings are current for the Diamantina, Georgina Rivers and Eyre
Creek.
3. Flood warnings are current for the Gulf Rivers including the Nicholson,
Flinders, Norman and Gilbert Rivers.
STATE FORECAST
for Monday night and Tuesday
Continuing cloudy over most northern and central areas of the state with further
showers and storms in the far north, and rain areas with moderate to heavy falls
across central areas near the monsoon trough. Isolated showers and a few
thunderstorms developing over the southeast inland on Tuesday, with rain areas
spreading to the southeast coast overnight. Generally light to moderate NE to NW
winds across the state.
EXTENDED OUTLOOK
The monsoon low near Camooweal is likely to move slowly northwest into the
Northern Territory in the next few days, while the monsoon trough drifts
southwards to be located from about Mount Isa/Longreach/Fraser Island by late
Tuesday. At the same time, an upper trough will amplify into the state from the
south-west on Tuesday, and as a result the cloud and rain band will reorganize
and by evening the increasing uplift associated with the upper trough should
produce moderate to heavy falls, spreading into southern and south-east areas of
the state.
A cold front will move northwards along the far southern coast during Wednesday
afternoon and spread northwards onto the southern tropical coast by Thursday
evening and then a little further northwards on Friday. This front will merge
with the monsoon trough on Thursday. The possibility exists of an increase in
rainfall along the north tropical coast from about Thursday onwards. Winds after
the change will be strong and may reach near gale force along the coast south
from Fraser Island during late Wednesday and Thursday as the following high
moves eastwards towards Tasmania. Showers will develop about exposed coastal
areas after the change and continue into the end of the week.
In the far north of the state further showers and storms will occur in the very

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STAT News Service