Australia -- Queensland Weather Update

MELBOURNE - Mar 7/03 - 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 Saturday
Scattered showers and thunderstorms over Cape York Peninsula and near coastal
parts of the Gulf Country. A few 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
Computer models indicate that ex-tropical cyclone Erica may be in a favourable
environment to re-develop into a tropical cyclone on Sunday or Monday as an
upper level trough amplifies over eastern Australia. This upper trough will be a
slow-moving system and should steer any re-developed tropical cyclone away from
the Queensland coast.
The monsoon trough is expected to lie over Cape York Peninsula during the next
few days with scattered showers and thunderstorms persisting in its vicinity.
The monsoon westerly flow may freshen north of Australia early next week which
could increase the rain over Cape York Peninsula and the Gulf country. 
Mainly fine weather is expected over the interior of the state during the
weekend and early next week in the absence of any major systems. The upper
trough mentioned above is not expected to cause any significant development over
the interior of Queensland owing to general stability of the atmosphere.
SE winds along the east coast are expected to remain in the moderate to fresh
range. A few showers are likely about exposed parts of the coast during the
outlook period.  

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STAT News Service

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