Australia -- Queensland Weather Update

MELBOURNE - Feb 28/03 - SNS -- The current forecast for the state of Queensland was released by Australia's Bureau of Meteorology.

IDQ1070001
WARNING SUMMARY
A flood warning is current for the Macintyre River downstream from Goondiwindi
and the Flinders River and tributaries. 
STATE FORECAST
for Saturday
Scattered showers and thunderstorms will continue over most of the far northern
tropics along with local rain areas and some moderate to heavy falls. A few
showers or thunderstorms along the remaining east coast. An eastward moving 
cloud band with showers and embedded thunderstorms over the central interior is
expected to contract to southeast districts during the day. Fine in the wake of
this cloud band over the south-west, with fresh and gusty SE/SW winds extending
northwards. Moderate to fresh NW winds over the northern tropics. Light winds in
the SE.
EXTENDED OUTLOOK
A low off Double Island Point will move to the south south-east quite quickly
and be located near Lord Howe Island by tonight. In the wake of this system firm
ridging will develop along the southern and central coasts and push the monsoon
trough into the far northern tropics. The ridge will direct moderate to fresh
S/SE winds onto most of the coast, with showers north of about Bowen. These
conditions will persist along the southern and central coasts into mid week.
Over the interior, an inland trough will develop from Monday onwards and move
into south-western border areas about mid week. A few showers and storms will
develop near the trough during this period. Conditions again will become quite
humid east of the inland trough from Monday onwards. 
The monsoon low currently over the Gulf country is expected to continue to
produce areas of rain and thunderstorms, with moderate to heavy falls over Cape
York Peninsula during the outlook period. This low is currently moving towards
the NE and may move off the coast north of Cairns late Sunday or early Monday.
There is some potential for this system to develop if it remains in open waters
long enough, as some computer models move the low back over Cape York Peninsula
midweek.        

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STAT News Service

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