Australia -- Queensland Weather Update

MELBOURNE - Feb 27/03 - SNS -- The current forecast for the state of Queensland was released by Australia's Bureau of Meteorology.

IDQ1070001
WARNING SUMMARY
A strong wind warning for Gulf of Carpentaria waters north of Kowanyama. 
A flood warning for the Macintyre River downstream from Goondiwindi. 
STATE FORECAST
for Friday
Scattered showers and thunderstorms over the tropics along with local rain areas
and some moderate to heavy falls. Showers and rain areas along the south coast
and ranges. A few showers and isolated thunderstorms over the southern interior
clearing east from the Channel Country during the day. Moderate to fresh NW
winds over the northern tropics. Moderate to fresh SE to NE winds along the
central and south coast, lighter inland.
EXTENDED OUTLOOK
A weak low now located offshore from Mackay is expected to move south to lie
offshore from the Yeppoon area tonight. On Saturday this low is expected to
deepen while moving rapidly southeast towards the Tasman Sea. The near coastal
strip can expect windy weather with some rain south of the low centre as it
moves south followed by clearing weather in its wake.
The main monsoon low located over northwest Queensland will be forced slowly
north towards the Gulf of Carpentaria during the weekend by a new large high
moving into the Bight. Ahead of the high, a trough is expected to move across
southern Queensland today along with some showers and isolated thunderstorms. 
During Saturday the trough should move quickly off the southern coast to link
with the low moving down from the tropics, and both should be well out over the
Tasman Sea by Sunday. Any showers and thunderstorms associated with the trough
are expected to clear southern districts during Saturday. A cooler dry southerly
change in the wake of the trough should contract any remaining shower or
thunderstorm activity into the northeast tropics on Sunday.
The slow-moving southern high will dominate the weather pattern during the early
part of next week, producing fine conditions over most of Queensland. The
monsoon trough should be located across Cape York Peninsula on Monday and
Tuesday, with showers and thunderstorms confined to parts of the Gulf Country
and the Peninsula.     

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STAT News Service

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