Australia -- Queensland Weather Update

MELBOURNE - Mar 17/12 - SNS -- The current forecast for the state of Queensland was released by Australia's Bureau of Meteorology.

Warning Summary at issue time
A Severe Weather Warning is current for parts of the
Peninsula and Gulf Country districts.
A Severe Weather Warning has been issued for the Herbert and lower Burdekin,
Central Coast and Whitsundays district.
Wind Warnings are current for Eastern Gulf of Carpentaria waters.
A Strong Wind Warning has been issued for Sunday for waters between Bowen and
Point Danger, including Hervey Bay.
Flood Warnings are current for various rivers and streams.
For the latest warning information please check the Bureau's
web site www.bom.gov.au/qld
Weather Situation
A high near New Zealand extends a weakening ridge near the Queensland's east
coast.  A Tropical Depression occurs on the monsoon trough in the southeast
Gulf. A new high is approaching southeast Australia from the Great Australian
Bight.
Forecast for the rest of Saturday
Cloudy over most of the state with patchy rain and isolated thunderstorms
across the tropics. Some heavy falls expected about the southeast Gulf coast and
developing on the central east coast overnight. Elsewhere  scattered showers and
isolated thunderstorms over the southern tropical interior. A band of patchy
rain and isolated thunderstorms occurs over the southern interior. Showers
generally over the southeast region tending to rain areas. Higher than normal
tides are expected about the Gulf of Carpentaria coast.  Moderate SE to NE winds
about the east coast, tending fresh W to NW over the northern tropics. Fresh to
strong SW to NW winds over Gulf waters.
Forecast for Sunday
A next high enters the southern Tasman Sea developing another ridge along the
east coast. This will generate   fresh to strong S to SE winds along the
southeast and central coasts. The tropical depression remains over the southeast
Gulf waters with gusty winds and local heavy falls near the coast. Rain areas
and isolated thunderstorms persisting across the tropics generally. Increasing
rainfall about the central coast with possible flash flooding. A little patchy
rain and isolated thunderstorms generally over the southern tropical interior,
extending to the Central Highlands. Isolated showers generally over the greater
southeast region including the Maranoa district. Fine over the southwest region
of the state.
Forecast for Monday
The tropical depression now drifts west over southern Gulf waters and may
develop further into a tropical cyclone.  Patchy rain continuing across the
tropics with isolated thunderstorms. Heavier falls near the southern Gulf coast.
Heavy falls also moving  north along the central coast to the Townsville region
with local flooding. Isolated afternoon showers over the southern tropical
interior from the northwest to the Central Highlands and the southeast.  Fine
over the southwest and southern interior. Fresh to strong SE winds about the
east coast south
of Bowen.
Forecast for Tuesday
The southern high moves further east towards New Zealand but the ridge
persists along the east coast. The tropical Cyclone or tropical depression has
move into the Northern Territory and weakened, becoming a monsoonal rain
depression. Rain areas now extend further southeast from this system into
northwest Queensland. Strong SE winds ease about the east coast with decreasing
heavy precipitation on the southern tropical coast near Townsville. Little
change in the weather over the rest of the state.
Forecast for Wednesday
The coastal ridge rapidly weakens now with easing SE winds. The monsoonal low
continues to move southeast and weakens but increasing the rainfall over the
northwest of the state with local heavy falls and potential flooding. Patchy
rain generally over the tropics with isolated thunderstorms. Patchy rain
spreading south into the Channel Country. Little change in the east or
southeast. Fine over the southern interior.
Outlook for Thursday, Friday and Saturday
The monsoonal low will enter the northwest of the state on Thursday with
heavy rain, general rain spreading southeast into the eastern interior. By
Friday the monsoonal low has weakened further and produces heavy rain over the
central interior. Increasing rain areas over eastern and southeast districts. By
Saturday rain areas contracting to the east coast and clearing the southeast.
The next routine forecast will be issued at 4:45 am EST
Sunday.
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This page was created at 15:15 on Saturday 17 March 2012 (GMT)
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