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 west of Georgetown
and Charters Towers.
A Cyclone Watch is current for coastal areas from Lockhart River to Cape
Melville and for the northern tropical interior, including Mt Isa.
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. 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.
Forecast for the rest of Wednesday
Scattered showers and thunderstorms about the Channel Country. Remaining
western districts and the southern interior 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
with very destructive winds and an associated storm surge, causing some coastal
inundation [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 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 late in the day.
Forecast for Friday
The remnants of Cyclone Yasi should move into the Northern Territory, though
rain areas and thunderstorms should continue about the Northwest and the Gulf
Country in a moist NW to NE airflow. Scattered showers and thunderstorms should
continue in the humid NE'ly wind flow over the remaining 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 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 an increase in showers expected. Mostly fine conditions over the
southern interior with only isolated showers expected.
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 4:10 pm EST
Wednesday.
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This page was created at 00:48 on Wednesday  2 February 2011 (GMT)
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