Australia -- Queensland Weather Update

MELBOURNE - Feb 1/11 - SNS -- The current forecast for the state of Queensland was released by Australia's Bureau of Meteorology.

Warning Summary at issue time
A Cyclone Warning is current for coastal and island
communities from Cape Melville to Sarina, extending inland to Georgetown and
west of Charters Towers.
A Cyclone Watch is current for coastal areas from Lockhart River to Cape
Melville and for the northern tropical interior.
Coastal waters wind warnings are current for coastal areas between Cape Melville
and Gladstone.
A flood warning is current for the Balonne River and also for the Conners and
Isaac Rivers and nearby streams.
For the latest warning information please check the Bureau's
web site www.bom.gov.au/qld
Weather Situation
The monsoon trough extends from northern Cape York Peninsula to Severe
Tropical Cyclone Yasi in the Coral Sea. Severe Tropical Cyclone Yasi is a large
and very dangerous system. Coastal and island communities in the Queensland
tropics should start to feel the first effects of Severe Tropical Cyclone Yasi
Wednesday morning or early afternoon with the impacts increasing during the day
ahead of the expected coastal crossing on the northeast tropical coast Wednesday
night or early Thursday. Severe Tropical Cyclone Yasi is then expected to move
west southwest over northern inland parts while slowly weakening, reaching
northwestern Queensland by Thursday evening. The tropical interior and western
districts north of about Blackall could also experience damaging wind gusts and
heavy rain during Thursday.
A high over the Tasman Sea extends a ridge into southern Queensland. A low
pressure system [Ex Tropical Cyclone Anthony] lies over the southern Channel
Country and is expected to move south into NSW on Wednesday.
Forecast for the rest of Tuesday
Ex Tropical Cyclone Anthony is generating rain areas and gusty thunderstorms
over the eastern Channel Country. Isolated showers and possible thunderstorms
elsewhere over western districts and also in the central interior and southeast.
Scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms over the tropics. Moderate to fresh
SE to NE winds along the east coast. Light to moderate mostly SE to NE winds
elsewhere.
Forecast for Wednesday
The low over the southern Channel Country should cause some moderate falls
during the morning about the far southwest before shifting into northern NSW.
Remaining parts of western districts should remain mostly fine under the
influence of the ridge with only isolated showers and possible afternoon
thunderstorms. Morning drizzle and isolated afternoon showers continuing over
the southeast in a moist NE'ly airflow. Showers and storms should continue over
the remainder of the state as the atmosphere remains moist and unstable,
increasing to squally rain areas about the tropical coast and adjacent inland
during the day as Severe Tropical Cyclone Yasi approaches. Severe Tropical
Cyclone Yasi is expected to cross the northeast tropical coast Wednesday night
or early Thursday [refer to warnings]. Dangerous surf conditions are also
expected to develop along the remaining east coast due to increasing NE
swells.
Forecast for Thursday
Severe Tropical Cyclone Yasi is likely to make landfall on Queensland's
northeast tropical coast as a large and strong system either late Wednesday
night or early Thursday [refer to warnings]. The system is then expected to
track west southwest over inland Queensland and gradually weaken, generating
damaging wind gusts and heavy rain areas over the tropical interior and northern
parts of the central interior and western districts. Scattered showers and
thunderstorms are expected through remaining parts of the central interior and
central west. Remaining mostly fine over the southern interior and southeast
with only isolated showers expected and possible isolated thunderstorms in the
far southwest. Dangerous swells gradually easing about the east coast.
Forecast for Friday
The remnants of Cyclone Yasi should move into the Northern Territory, though
rain areas and gusty thunderstorms should continue about far western Queensland
and the Gulf Country in the moist NW to NE flow in its wake. Scattered showers
and thunderstorms should continue in the humid NE'ly wind flow over the tropical
regions of the state, with at least some moderate to locally heavy falls
possible, particularly near the coast. Isolated showers and morning drizzle
areas in the southeast. Mostly fine over the southern interior with just the
chance of isolated showers.
Forecast for Saturday
The remnants of Cyclone Yasi should continue moving west over the Northern
Territory and merge with a trough moving east over South Australia. Unstable and
humid N to NE winds will continue to extend into western parts of Queensland and
Cape York Peninsula, generating rain areas and gusty thunderstorms with at least
moderate falls likely. Scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms elsewhere
over the tropics and through central districts. The high in the Tasman Sea will
move a little south, dragging a deep, moist NE'ly windflow into southeastern
districts with scattered showers expected. Mostly fine conditions over the
southern interior with only isolated showers expected and possible thunderstorms
in the far southwest.
Outlook for Sunday, Monday and Tuesday
A trough moving east over New South Wales combined with a moist NE'ly flow
from the tropics should result in unstable conditions and isolated showers and
thunderstorms over much of the state on Sunday, more widespread through the
tropics and near the western border. Showers and isolated thunderstorms should
persist through the tropics and near the western border throughout the outlook
period. The trough should move up the northern NSW coast and into southern
Queensland during Monday, possibly increasing shower and thunderstorm activity
over southeastern parts before most likely contracting north into the
Capricornia late Tuesday.
The next routine forecast will be issued at 4:45 am EST
Wednesday.
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This page was created at 12:33 on Tuesday  1 February 2011 (GMT)
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