Australia -- Queensland Weather Update

MELBOURNE - Aug 16/10 - SNS -- The current forecast for the state of Queensland was released by Australia's Bureau of Meteorology.

IDQ1070001
WARNING SUMMARY
Nil.
STATE FORECAST
for Monday
Fine throughout most of the state apart from some isolated and mainly light
showers over the far northern Cape York Peninsula and Torres Strait, spreading
southwards to about the Cardwell area during the afternoon. Light to moderate NE
to SE winds, tending fresh at times about the far northeast coast.
EXTENDED OUTLOOK
Wednesday: The high will move over the northern reaches of the Tasman Sea and
maintain SE winds and isolated showers along the northeast tropical coast,
whilst winds along the central and southern coast tend more NE'ly and produce
some cloudy periods and light coastal showers or drizzle. An upper trough will
move over central Australia and spread a cloud band across the far south-west
and southern inland border areas, though with no rain at first.  Winds over
southern and central Queensland will shift warmer N/NW ahead of a surface
trough, which will move into the Channel Country late in the day. The warmer air
will restrict any morning frost areas to just the Granite Belt region.
Thursday: The high will continue to move eastwards and direct relatively moist
low level winds into the state ahead of the surface trough. The upper trough
will remain near stationary to the state's southwest, allowing the cloud band to
build and patchy rain areas to fall in the Channel Country and Maranoa and
Warrego districts, though the falls will be mainly light. The surface trough
will move eastwards through the state's interior, and showers and storms should
extend from the southeast interior to the central districts. Isolated showers
can also be expected in the northwest district, and over the northeast tropics.
Friday: The surface trough will move off the southern coast during the morning
and off the remaining east coast during the afternoon and evening. A new high
will move over South Australia and direct dry SW to SE winds across the state
after the trough. At the same time the upper trough will weaken as it moves
seawards, and so the rain band should gradually weaken as it moves northwards
across the southeast and central areas of the state. Showers and possible storms
will occur with the surface trough as it moves eastwards. Isolated showers
should continue in the onshore flow about the northeast and central coasts.
Outlook for Saturday, Sunday and Monday: A cloud band with patchy rain will move
into the south-west during Sunday and then across remaining southern districts
during Monday. Over the rest of the state conditions will be fine apart from
isolated and mainly light showers along the east coast north of about the
Townsville area.

---

STAT News Service