Australia -- Queensland Weather Update

MELBOURNE - Mar 6/03 - SNS -- The current forecast for the state of Queensland was released by Australia's Bureau of Meteorology.

IDQ1070001
WARNING SUMMARY
Flood warnings are current for the Thomson River and Cooper Creek and for the
Diamantina River.
STATE FORECAST
for Friday
Scattered showers and thunderstorms over the northern tropics. A few showers
about the east coast. Mostly fine inland with only isolated showers or
thunderstorms over the west and south. Moderate to fresh southeast winds along
most of the east coast. Light to moderate southeast to northeast winds
elsewhere. 
EXTENDED OUTLOOK
Tropical Cyclone ERICA is forecast to move slowly northwest until at least
Sunday along a track well offshore and approximately parallel to the Queensland
north tropical coast. Most computer forecast models deepen the cyclone during
the weekend whilst keeping it well offshore. A broad belt of high pressure will
lie south of Australia to the New Zealand area for the rest of the week with a
firm ridge extending to Queensland's south coast. The combination of the
tropical cyclone and the ridge will produce fresh southeast winds and a few
showers along most of the Queensland east coast for the next few days at least.
Heavier rain could develop about the north tropical coast during the weekend.
Showers and thunderstorms will continue over the northern tropics with more
isolated shower or storm activity near the surface trough in western districts.
Some high cloud will skirt across southern parts of the state tonight and Friday
but no significant rain is expected from this source.

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STAT News Service

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