Australia -- Queensland Weather Update

MELBOURNE - Oct 4/10 - SNS -- The current forecast for the state of Queensland was released by Australia's Bureau of Meteorology.

IDQ1070001
WARNING SUMMARY
1. Flood warnings are current for the Weir, Thomson and Barcoo Rivers.
2. Strong wind warning for coastal waters between Torres Strait and Cooktown.
STATE FORECAST
for Monday night and Tuesday
Isolated showers and thunderstorms over the far northern tropics, parts of the
southeast coast, and the central coast and interior. Isolated showers also about
the southeast interior.  Areas of low cloud and drizzle about the southern
interior during Tuesday morning.  Patchy thundery rain developing in the far
southwest during Tuesday.  Fine elsewhere. Moderate to fresh SE winds over the
far northern tropics. Light to moderate SW to SE winds elsewhere.
EXTENDED OUTLOOK
Wednesday: The high will remain near New Zealand, with the ridge persisting
along the coast. Isolated showers in the onshore flow along the east coast, with
isolated showers and storms extending to the southeast and central interior in
the afternoon. Isolated showers and thunderstorms over the tropical interior and
Cape York Peninsula. Thundery rain increasing over the southwest as an upper
level trough gradually strengthens about the far SW of the state.
Thursday: The ridge will weaken along the east coast as the surface trough
approaches eastern Queensland. Isolated showers and storms should form ahead of
the surface trough over the central and southeast interior, and in the Gulf
Country, while isolated showers should continue in the onshore flow about the
east coast.  The upper trough should allow thundery rain areas to continue over
the west of the state.
Friday: A new high will move into the Great Australian Bight and extend a ridge
across SE Australia, and mainly moderate E to SE winds over most of QLD. A fresh
to strong S/SE wind change will move through southern coastal areas, with
showers and storms increasing ahead of the change, and easing to isolated
showers after the change.  A surface trough may also trigger some isolated
storms about the SE interior, and a weak upper level trough over central
Australia could allow the storms to extend inland through QLD to the state's far
NW.  Patchy rain areas also in the central and western areas of the state
associated with the weak upper level trough.  Isolated coastal showers.
The outlook for Saturday, Sunday and Monday: The new high pressure system should
move slowly eastwards over southern Australia, bringing further showers to the
east coast.  Isolated thunderstorms should also continue about the northern
tropics, and the upper level trough should remain over central Australia and
continue producing patchy rain areas in the west during the weekend.

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STAT News Service