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 the rest of Friday and Saturday
Scattered showers and thunderstorms over Cape York Peninsula and near coastal
parts of the Gulf Country. Isolated showers about exposed parts of the east
coast. Mostly fine inland with only isolated showers or thunderstorms over the
southwest. Generally moderate SE to NE winds, fresh at times along parts of the
east coast. 
EXTENDED OUTLOOK
On Sunday computer models indicate that Ex-Tropical Cyclone Erica may be in a
more favourable environment to re-develop as an upper level trough moves over
eastern Australia. This upper trough will be slow moving and will steer any
re-developed systems away from the Australian coast. Therefore no direct threat
to Queensland from any re-development of Ex- Erica is likely in the outlook
period.  
The monsoon trough is expected to lie over Cape York Peninsula during the
weekend with scattered showers and thunderstorms persisting, more isolated about
the Gulf Country. Early to mid next week some computer models increase the
monsoon flow over the Top End of the Northern Territory which may increase the
rain over the Gulf of Carpentaria region. Mainly fine over the interior during
the weekend and into the start of next week in the absence of any major systems.
The upper trough mentioned above is not expected to cause and significant
development over Queensland owing to lack of triggers, such as troughs in low
layers, and general stability. 
Winds along east coastal waters are expected to remain SE in the moderate to
fresh range. During the weekend lower pressure to the south will hold winds back
to moderate over southern waters. Given Ex-Erica is well offshore winds along
the Northern Tropical coast are expected to be mostly moderate, just fresh at
times. Some isolated showers about exposed parts of the east coast can be
expected during the outlook period, no significant falls.  

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STAT News Service

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