Australia -- Queensland Weather Update

MELBOURNE - Oct 27/10 - SNS -- The current forecast for the state of Queensland was released by Australia's Bureau of Meteorology.

IDQ1070001
WARNING SUMMARY
Nil.
STATE FORECAST
for Thursday
Showers and thunderstorms over the southern Gulf Country and northern Cape York
Peninsula. Isolated showers and afternoon thunderstorms over the southeast,
chiefly inland. Mostly fine elsewhere over the eastern half of the state with
only isolated afternoon showers and the chance of isolated thunderstorms inland.
Remaining fine in the west. Moderate to fresh SE winds over the tropical east
coast. Light to moderate SE to NE winds over the remainder of the state.
EXTENDED OUTLOOK
Friday: A high over the Tasman Sea will move further southeast to lie south of
New Zealand. Moderate to fresh SE winds will continue along most of the east
coast, shifting warm N to NE over the interior ahead of a surface trough
approaching western Queensland. The trough will enter the Channel Country late
in the day, followed by a cooler SW wind change. An upper trough moving over
central Australia will extend a cloud band with patchy rain and isolated
thunderstorms into far western Queensland late in the day. Stream showers will
continue along the east tropical coast. Remaining mostly fine elsewhere over
eastern districts with only isolated showers, chiefly inland during the
afternoon. Isolated showers and thunderstorms will continue near the Gulf of
Carpentaria coast.
Saturday: The surface trough will move further east and extend from the Gulf
Country into the southern interior by evening. A band of rain and thundestorms
will extend east over the western half of the state, clearing far southwestern
parts by evening as the dry SW wind change spreads through the area. Some
moderate falls are likely within the band, particularly with thunderstorms.
Daytime temperatures through far western Queensland will be much cooler than the
October average due to the S'ly winds and cloud cover. Isolated showers along
the tropical east coast and adjacent inland. Isolated showers through Cape York
Peninsula, with possible thunderstorms on the west coast. Fine in the southeast.
Sunday: The surface trough and associated band of rain and thunderstorms will
shift a little further east to extend from the Gulf Country into the central and
southern interior. Possible moderate falls within the band, particularly with
thunderstorms. Fine and cool conditions through southwestern Queensland in the
dry SW'ly flow behind the trough. Fine conditions continuing in the southeast.
Showers over remaining northern and central parts of the state with possible
isolated thunderstorms inland.
The outlook for Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday: The surface trough and associated
band of rain and thunderstorms will move into the eastern half of the state on
Monday. Some uncertainty exists with the trough movement after Monday but at
this stage the most likely scenario is for the trough to push off the southern
coast during Tuesday as a large high moves east over the Great Australian Bight.
Rain and thunderstorms should then contract north into northern and central
districts. Remaining fine in the west in the dry SW to SE flow behind the
trough.

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STAT News Service