Australia -- Queensland Weather Update

MELBOURNE - Feb 25/03 - SNS -- The current forecast for the state of Queensland was released by Australia's Bureau of Meteorology.

IDQ1070001
WARNING SUMMARY
A severe weather warning is current for near coastal areas between Mackay and 
St Lawrence. 
A strong wind warning for coastal waters from Coolangatta to Double Island
Point. 
A strong wind warning is current for the northeast Gulf of Carpentaria. 
A flood warning for the Macintyre River downstream from Goondiwindi. 
A flood warning for coastal rivers and streams between Mackay and Gladstone.
STATE FORECAST
for Wednesday
Widespread heavy rains along the near coastal strip between Mackay and St
Lawrence with localised flooding. Widespread showers and thunderstorms with
local rain areas elsewhere over the northern and eastern tropics along with some
moderate to heavy falls. A few showers over southern districts. Moderate to
fresh northwest winds over the northern and eastern tropics. Moderate to fresh
southeast winds along the south coast. 
EXTENDED OUTLOOK
The monsoon low and associated trough are expected to persist across the
Queensland tropics, maintaining the active monsoon burst for several days at
least. Scattered to widespread showers and thunderstorms will continue across
most of the northern and eastern tropics along with local rain areas. The very
heavy rains along the southern central coast are expected to taper off during
the day. Most models develop a low off the tropical coast over the next day or
so and then move it rapidly to the southeast. If this happens, conditions over
the southeast tropics will improve rapidly with showers limited to near coastal
parts. Fresh southeast winds along the southern coast will gradually ease during
the rest of the week as the large high moves further east from New Zealand.
Scattered showers along the coast and ranges will slowly taper off as the winds
ease. Although conditions remain moist over the southern interior, only a few
heat showers are expected in the near future due to a stable upper pattern. A
surface trough will deepen over the far southwest on Thursday and move east on
Friday linked to a southern cold front. This trough could produce a band of
showers and isolated thunderstorms.

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STAT News Service

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