Australia -- Queensland Weather Update

MELBOURNE - Feb 24/09 - SNS -- The current forecast for the state of Queensland was released by Australia's Bureau of Meteorology.

IDQ1070001
WARNING SUMMARY
A strong wind warning is current for waters between Bowen and Gladstone.
FLOOD WARNING FOR THE GEORGINA RIVER AND EYRE CREEK
FLOOD WARNING FOR THE LOWER FLINDERS AND THE NORMAN RIVER SYSTEMS
FLOOD WARNING FOR THE LOWER DIAMANTINA RIVER
FLOOD WARNING FOR THE LOWER THOMSON RIVER AND COOPER CREEK
STATE FORECAST
for Wednesday
Showers and thunderstorms over most of the tropics and the south-west. Some rain
areas over the central and southern tropics. Generally fine elsewhere apart from
isolated showers about the southern coast with a possible thunderstorm in the
far southeast. Winds mostly light to moderate SE to NE becoming fresh to strong
about the central coast.
EXTENDED OUTLOOK
A upper trough system over southeastern Australia will move off the east coast
early on Thursday and then move only very slowly eastwards. As a result the S'ly
winds through the middle and upper levels of the atmosphere to the west of the
trough will push the rain, showers and storms into the far northern tropics
during Thursday. This activity will remain over the far north of the state and
around the southern Gulf of Carpentaria through the weekend. The SE trade winds
along most of the east coast will strengthen on Thursday as a deep trough
develops over the eastern Coral Sea and the northeast Tasman Sea. These trade
winds will weaken during the weekend as a high cell moves across the southern
Coral Sea and the deep troughing moves further eastwards. The trade winds will
initially continue to direct showers into most east districts but as the high
cell develops these showers will contract to north of Cardwell by Sunday at the
latest. Some showers and storms will possibly develop about the southeast corner
of the state on Sunday, but likely on Monday.
Temperatures across most of the state will remain near average but through the
weekend will rise to above average over the south-east of the state as winds

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STAT News Service