Australia -- Queensland Weather Update

MELBOURNE - Apr 22/09 - 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 coastal waters between Sandy Cape and Point
Danger.
A flood warning is current for the Bulloo River.
STATE FORECAST
for Wednesday night and Thursday
Isolated showers over the southern and southeast interior clearing this evening.
Isolated showers about the east coast. Isolated thunderstorms over far northern
Cape York Peninsula. Fine elsewhere. Moderate to fresh S to SE winds along the
east coast. Light to moderate SE to NE winds elsewhere.
EXTENDED OUTLOOK
On Friday, the ridge over eastern Queensland will weaken but still give isolated
showers about parts of the tropical coast. Isolated showers and thunderstorms
over far northern Cape York Peninsula. A new surface and upper trough will move
across the west of the state, reaching the southeast interior at night. Expect a
cloud band with patchy rain with this trough over the southwest and southern
interior, which will weaken as it moves further east due to the weakening upper
trough. Warm day ahead of the trough over the central and southern interior,
cooler in the far southwest. Cool morning over most of the interior.
On Saturday, the surface trough move east and stalls from the northwest to
southeast coast region. Drier W to SW winds spread across most of the interior
with the residual cloud band lying from the northwest, through the central
interior to the Burnett region. At this stage, no further precipitation is
expected from this cloud. The weak ridge along the north tropical coast to give
isolated coastal showers, while continuing instability over far northern Cape
York Peninsula may still give one or two thunderstorms. Warm conditions in the
east ahead of the trough and  relatively cool in the west.
On Sunday, the surface trough remains over the central and eastern interior but
the lower atmosphere is too dry to see any weather from it. A front will cross
southeast Australia, with a ridge across the Queensland interior giving fine
conditions. A ridge along the tropical coast to give isolated coastal showers
while continuing instability over far northern Cape York Peninsula may still
give one or two thunderstorms.
On Monday, the surface trough moves off the southern Queensland coast with
initially SW winds in its wake. A high over the Great Australian Bight will
extend a ridge across most of the state with dry and cool SW to S winds over the
interior and fine conditions. Isolated showers are likely in the moister air

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STAT News Service