Australia -- Queensland Weather Update

MELBOURNE - Aug 20/10 - SNS -- The current forecast for the state of Queensland was released by Australia's Bureau of Meteorology.

IDQ1070001
WARNING SUMMARY
A strong wind warning has been issued for east coast waters between Torres
Strait and Cooktown for Sunday.
A strong wind warning has been issued for northeastern Gulf of Carpentaria
waters between Torres Strait and Weipa for Sunday.
STATE FORECAST
for Saturday
Early fog patches over the southern interior and Wide Bay. Mostly fine over the
northeast tropical coast with only isolated showers. Isolated showers and
drizzle areas elsewhere over the east coast north of Fraser Island, developing
over the northern and central interior in the afternoon with possible isolated
thunderstorms. Cloudy periods in the northwest though with little or no rain.
Fine elsewhere. Cool in the south with light to moderate SW to SE winds.
Moderate SE to NE winds elsewhere, fresh at times over the northern tropics and
the northwest.
EXTENDED OUTLOOK
Sunday: A new upper trough moves eastwards across the western Great Australian
Bight. This upper trough will extend a rain band east over the southern interior
of Queensland, with possible moderate falls in the far southwest. A surface
trough will develop over the northern Channel Country, with possible isolated
afternoon thunderstorms developing over western Queensland to the north of the
trough. Isolated showers will occur over central and north-eastern parts of the
state in the warm, moist NE'ly flow ahead of the surface trough. A high will
move into northeastern NSW, strengthening SE winds over the east coast north of
about Cooktown. A cold morning will occur over the south-east interior with
widespread early frosts. A warm to hot day will occur over the north-west of the
state due to N'ly winds.
Monday: The upper trough will move across NSW and will extend the rain band
further eastwards over southern Queensland with some moderate falls, chiefly
near the southern inland border. The surface trough will move northeastwards,
with possible thunderstorms developing over the interior of the state to its
north. Moderate falls may also occur with the thunderstorms, particularly over
the Maranoa and Warrego and Darling Downs districts. Morning drizzle areas will
occur over eastern districts in the moist NE flow ahead of the trough, with
isolated showers north of about Mackay. Strong SE winds about the north tropical
coast will contract to north of Cape Flattery as the high moves slowly east over
the Tasman Sea. A warmer morning will occur across the state due to the cloud
cover or N'ly winds. Warmer than average daytime temperatures will continue in
the north of the state.
Tuesday: The upper trough will move into the Tasman Sea as a new upper system
moves across Victoria. So a cloud band persists through southern Queensland
though in a weakening mode. The surface trough moves further northeast over the
state, reaching the Capricorn coast by evening. Drier southwest winds behind the
surface trough result in only patchy rain areas expected with the cloud band
over southern Queensland. Isolated thunderstorms are possible about the central
interior and Capricornia to the northeast of the surface trough. Morning drizzle
and fogs in the moist NW to NE flow over the southern tropics and central coast.
Isolated showers over the far northeastern tropics. Fine elsewhere. The high
moves further east over the Tasman Sea, easing the SE'ly winds over the north
tropical coast. A cool to cold day over the far southern interior under the
cloud with warmer than average temperatures elsewhere in the N'ly flow ahead of
the trough.
Outlook for Wednesday, Thursday and Friday: The weak cloud band with some
patchy rain will move slowly northwards and finally move out of the state on
Friday as an upper trough moves east over the Tasman Sea. The ridge across
southern Qld will move northwards during Wednesday and Thursday. As a result the
surface trough will move into the northern tropics on Wednesday before decaying.
So dry SW to SE winds will spread across most of the state on Wednesday. Showers
will occur with the trough as it moves northwards. By Thursday any showers will
be confined to the far northern tropics.

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STAT News Service