Australia -- Queensland Weather Update

MELBOURNE - Jan 15/11 - SNS -- The current forecast for the state of Queensland was released by Australia's Bureau of Meteorology.

Warning Summary at issue time
For the latest warning information please check the Bureau's
web site www.bom.gov.au/qld
Weather Situation
The monsoon trough extends over the northern Queensland tropics to Tropical
Cyclone Zelia over the northern Coral Sea and across to Ex-Tropical Cyclone
Vania southeast of New Caledonia. Both systems are expected to stay well away
from the Queensland coast in the forecast period. A high near New Zealand
extends a ridge over southeastern and central Queensland.
Forecast for the rest of Saturday
Cyclone Zelia is expected continue to move southeast away from the Queensland
coast. Monsoonal rain areas and thunderstorms through the northern tropics with
some locally heavy falls. Patchy rain areas, showers and thunderstorms over
western districts west of Longreach with some locally heavy falls with
thunderstorms.  Patchy rain and showers developing over the southern Maranoa and
far southwestern Darling Downs this evening. Mostly fine elsewhere over
southeastern Queensland and central districts with only isolated showers,
chiefly near the coast. Ocean swells increasing about the southeast coastal
waters. Light to moderate NW to NE winds over the northern tropics. Moderate to
fresh SE winds along the remainder of the east coast and through the far west.
Light to moderate SE to NE winds elsewhere.
Forecast for Sunday
A trough continues to produce rain areas and thunderstorms over western
districts west of about Longreach to Charleville with possible locally heavy
falls, easing from the south later in the day as the trough contracts north.
Monsoonal rain areas and thunderstorms will continue over the tropics north of
about Cardwell with some locally heavy falls. More isolated showers and
thunderstorms over the southern tropics and through remaining parts of the
interior west of about Emerald to Goondiwindi. Mostly fine over the southeastern
corner of the state with only isolated showers, chiefly near the coast during
the morning. Ocean swells will continue to increase over southern Queensland
waters however with dangerous surf conditions expected Fraser Island and
south.
Forecast for Monday
An upper level trough combined with a surface trough extending from the
Channel Country into southeastern Queensland will increase instability over
southeastern parts of the state, with isolated afternoon showers and possible
thunderstorms expected, chiefly inland. Mostly fine over the far southwest in
drier S'ly winds with just the chance of isolated showers or thunderstorms. Rain
areas and thunderstorms are expected elsewhere over central Queensland and the
southern tropics in the unstable and moist conditions to the north of the
surface trough. Monsoonal rain areas, showers and thunderstorms continuing in
the northern tropics. Ocean swells should ease slightly over southern
Queensland.
Forecast for Tuesday
A ridge will extend into the southern interior, contracting the surface
trough further north to extend from northwestern Queensland through the central
interior and into the southeast. Fine in the southwest in the drier S'ly flow
behind the trough. The monsoon trough will slip a little further south with
monsoonal rain areas and thunderstorms expected north of about Mount Isa to
Mackay with some heavy falls. Showers and isolated thunderstorms elsewhere.
Forecast for Wednesday
Monsoonal rain and thunderstorms with some heavy falls will continue over
northern districts to the north of the monsoon trough which will most likely lie
near Bowen. A surface trough will persist from the northwest of the state into
the central and southeastern interior, and this combined with an upper level
trough will result in scattered showers and thunderstorms through the northwest,
central and southeast districts. Fine in the southwest in the continuing dry
S'ly flow.
Outlook for Thursday, Friday and Saturday
The monsoon trough will slowly contract north over the tropics from Friday as
a ridge builds to the south, with monsoonal rain and thunderstorms contracting
to north of Cairns on Saturday. A trough will persist from northwestern
Queensland into the southeastern interior on Thursday with scattered showers and
thunderstorms near and to the east of the trough. This trough is expected to
contract north into central districts on Friday as the ridge builds over
southeastern Queensland, with scattered showers occurring along the east coast
in its wake.
The next routine forecast will be issued at 4:45 am EST
Sunday.
Weather & Warnings
Australia
Warnings Summary
External Territories
Major Cities
Weather Maps
Rainfall & River Conditions
New South Wales
Warnings Summary
Forecasts
Sydney Forecast
NSW Forecast Areas Map
Observations
Sydney Observations
All NSW Observations
Rainfall & River Conditions
Victoria
Warnings Summary
Forecasts
Melbourne Metro Forecast
Vic. Forecast Areas Map
Observations
Melbourne Observations
All Victorian Observations
Rainfall & River Conditions
Queensland
Warnings Summary
Forecasts
Brisbane Forecast
Qld. Forecast Areas Map
Observations
Brisbane Observations
All Queensland Observations
Rainfall & River Conditions
Western Australia
Warnings Summary
Forecasts
Perth Forecast
WA Forecast Areas Map
Observations
Perth Observations
All WA Observations
Rainfall & River Conditions
South Australia
Warnings Summary
Forecasts
Adelaide Forecast
SA Forecast Areas Map
Observations
Adelaide Observations
All SA Observations
Rainfall & River Conditions
Tasmania
Warnings Summary
Forecasts
Hobart Forecast
Tas. Forecast Areas Map
Observations
Hobart Observations
All Tasmanian Observations
Rainfall & River Conditions
Australian Capital Territory
Warnings Summary
Forecasts
ACT and Canberra Forecast
Observations
Canberra Observations
Northern Territory
Warnings Summary
Forecasts
Darwin and Rural Forecast
NT Forecast Areas Map
Observations
Darwin Observations
All NT Observations
Rainfall & River Conditions
Antarctic
Global
National Weather Services
Radar Viewer
Tropical Cyclones
Tsunami Warnings
Flood Warnings
-->  Weather Maps
Satellite Images
Agriculture
Marine
UV Protection
Home
About Us
Contacts
Careers
Search
Site Map
Help
Feedback
Weather & Warnings
Climate Information
Water Information
Radar
RSS
Learn About Meteorology
This page was created at 16:18 on Saturday 15 January 2011 (GMT)
© Copyright Commonwealth of Australia 2011, Bureau of Meteorology (ABN 92 637 533 532)
Please note the Copyright Notice and Disclaimer statements relating to the use of the information on this site and our site Privacy and Accessibility statements. Users of these web pages are deemed to have read and accepted the conditions described in the Copyright, Disclaimer, and Privacy statements. Please also note the Acknowledgement notice relating to the use of information on this site. No unsolicited commercial email.

---

STAT News Service