Australia -- Queensland Weather Update

MELBOURNE - Apr 20/12 - SNS -- The current forecast for the state of Queensland was released by Australia's Bureau of Meteorology.

Warning Summary at issue time
Nil.
For the latest warning information please check the Bureau's
web site www.bom.gov.au/qld
Weather Situation
A high [1039 hPa] near New Zealand extends a weak ridge along the tropical
east coast of Queensland. A trough lies over the Coral Sea just offshore of the
southern Queensland coast. The trough will contract further east into the
southern Coral Sea on Saturday. Strong E to NE winds over the southeast Coral
Sea are causing large E'ly swells and powerful surf from Fraser Island to the
New South Wales border.
Forecast for the rest of Friday
Isolated showers over the southeast, increasing to scattered about the coast
south of Caloundra with possible isolated thunderstorms. Isolated showers over
the east tropical coast, increasing to scattered over Cape York Peninsula and
near the Gulf of Carpentaria with isolated thunderstorms.  Fine though partly
cloudy elsewhere. Moderate to fresh SE winds along the tropical coast. Light to
moderate SE to NE winds elsewhere. Large E'ly ocean swells and powerful surf
from Fraser Island to the New South Wales border.
Forecast for Saturday
Isolated showers on the far southern coast, clearing early in the morning.
Morning fog patches over eastern districts. High cloud increasing over
southwestern Queensland though with no rain. Mostly fine on the northeast
tropical coast with just the chance of isolated showers. Isolated showers and
thunderstorms over Cape York Peninsula and near the Gulf of Carpentaria coast,
particularly during the afternoon. Fine and mostly sunny over the remainder of
the state. A warm day over southern and central Queensland. Large E'ly ocean
swells and powerful surf from Fraser Island to the New South Wales border.
Moderate to fresh SE winds along the north tropical coast. Light to moderate
mostly SE to NE winds elsewhere.
Forecast for Sunday
The ridge along the east coast of Queensland will weaken further as the large
high moves slowly to the east of New Zealand. A surface trough will move over
the Channel Country. An approaching upper trough is expected to thicken the
cloud over the southwest of the state during the early morning and produce
patchy rain and isolated thunderstorms, which will extend across the southern
interior during the day. High cloud will also extend through to the southeast
coast though with no rainfall expected. Isolated showers and thunderstorms will
persist about Cape York Peninsula and near the Gulf of Carpentaria coast due to
continuing instability. Fine and mostly sunny conditions will occur over the
remainder of the state. Maximum temperatures will be above average over much of
the state. Strong E'ly winds over the southern Coral Sea will continue to drive
large ocean swells into the southern Queensland coast, producing powerful surf
from Fraser Island to the New South Wales border.
Forecast for Monday
The surface and upper level trough will most likely move over southern and
central parts of Queensland. The cloud band will extend eastwards and produce
areas of rain, showers and isolated thunderstorms; reaching the southeast
interior by the evening. Dry and cool SW'ly winds will extend over the Channel
Country in the wake of the cloud band. Isolated showers will occur about the
Capricornia and southeast coasts, more scattered on the Fraser Coast. Isolated
showers will also occur about the east tropical coast, increasing to scattered
with isolated thunderstorms about Cape York Peninsula and the northern Gulf
Country district due to continuing instability. Fine conditions will occur over
the remainder of the state. Maximum temperatures will be well below average over
the southwest and above average elsewhere. The large ocean swells and surf along
the southern Queensland coast will begin to decrease.
Forecast for Tuesday
Some uncertainty exists with the movement of the upper level trough and
associated band of rain, showers and thunderstorms but at this stage it will
most likely move east over the state to extend from the northwest to the
southeast coast by evening. Cool, dry SW'ly winds will extend further east over
the interior in the wake of the rain band. Isolated showers will occur along the
northeast tropical coast, with isolated thunderstorms continuing over Cape York
Peninsula.
Outlook for Wednesday, Thursday and Friday
The surface and upper level trough and associated band of rain, showers and
thunderstorms will most likely contract off the southern Queensland coast
overnight Tuesday or early Wednesday and off the tropical coast during
Wednesday. Dry and cool S to SW winds are expected to spread across southern and
central districts in the wake of the trough and cloud band. Isolated to
scattered showers will continue over the northeast tropics, with possible
isolated thunderstorms about Cape York Peninsula and the northern Gulf Country
district.
The next routine forecast will be issued at 4:45 am EST
Saturday.
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This page was created at 07:45 on Friday 20 April 2012 (GMT)
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