Australia -- Queensland Weather Update

MELBOURNE - Aug 22/10 - SNS -- The current forecast for the state of Queensland was released by Australia's Bureau of Meteorology.

IDQ1070001
WARNING SUMMARY
A strong wind warning is current for Torres Strait to Cooktown.
A strong wind warning is current for Torres Strait to Weipa.
STATE FORECAST
for Monday
Cloudy periods with isolated showers and drizzle about the tropical east coast
and nearby inland. A rain band over southern inland areas will contract to the
southeast during the day. A slight chance of isolated thunderstorms about
southern areas of the Central Highlands. Fine elsewhere. Light to moderate SE to
NE winds over most of the state, fresh at times over the northeast tropical
coast. Moderate SW winds about southern inland areas, slowly spreading east.
EXTENDED OUTLOOK
Tuesday: The upper trough will move into the Tasman Sea and contract most of the
rain areas off the southeast coast by late morning, but a cloud band will remain
over the southern districts and should still produce some very light patchy rain
and cool daytime temperatures. The surface trough will move towards central and
northern areas, with warmer than average temperatures continuing ahead of the
trough. Cooler southwest winds behind the surface trough will likely produce
drizzle about the Darling Downs, mostly morning. Isolated showers about the
remaining east coast and adjacent inland. Fine elsewhere.
Wednesday: A weak cloud band will produce some patchy light rain areas over the
central and southeast districts, while moist SW winds should produce some
drizzle areas about the Central Highlands and Darling Downs.  Isolated afternoon
showers about the central coast, and also over Cape York Peninsula. Daytime
temperatures below average beneath the cloud band in the southern and central
districts, and above average in the north of the state.
Thursday: The cloud band will move further north and produce some patchy and
mainly light falls in the central districts. A ridge extending from the Great
Australian Bight will direct moist SW winds into the southern parts of the
state, and this flow should produce drizzle areas about the southern interior.
A moderate onshore flow will push isolated showers about the northeast tropical
coast. Cool daytime temperatures over the southern and central areas of the
state.
Outlook for Friday, Saturday and Sunday: Mainly fine over the state as a high
moves into the Great Australian Bight and extends a ridge and dry SW to SE winds
over QLD. The dry air will bring cool morning temperatures about the central and
southern districts, with widespread early morning frost patches developing about
the southern and southeast interior from Friday morning. Just isolated showers
about the northeast tropics in an onshore flow.

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STAT News Service