Australia -- Queensland Weather Update

MELBOURNE - May 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 Strong Wind Warning has been issued for waters from
Lockhart River to Cooktown for Friday afternoon, extending north to Torres
Strait in the early hours of Saturday.
For the latest warning information please check the Bureau's
web site www.bom.gov.au/qld
Weather Situation
A high [1026 hPa] over southern New South Wales will drift northwards over
the next day or so before being captured by the next high moving into the Great
Australian Bight on Saturday. A firm ridge will be maintained along the east
coast into and through the weekend. A trough will move west through the
northwest Coral Sea during Friday.
Forecast for the rest of Thursday
Isolated showers in most east coast districts, increasing to scattered about
the south tropical and central coasts and also over Fraser Island. Scattered
showers and possible isolated thunderstorms through Torres Strait. Isolated
afternoon showers over eastern parts of the Northern Goldfields and Upper
Flinders district and northeast parts of the Central Highlands and Coalfields
district, clearing this evening. Fine and clear elsewhere. Moderate to fresh
SE'ly winds along the east coast, gusty at times north of Fraser Island. Light
to moderate SE to NE winds elsewhere.
Forecast for Friday
Isolated showers in most east coast districts, increasing to scattered about
the north tropical coast and Fraser Island. Scattered showers and isolated
thunderstorms over far northeast Cape York Peninsula and through Torres Strait.
Isolated afternoon showers over the tropical and central interior north of
Emerald and also developing through the eastern Gulf Country late in the day.
Some morning drizzle inland of the east tropical coast. Fine and sunny elsewhere
over the interior. A cool morning over the southeast inland with possible early
light frost patches. Moderate to fresh SE'ly winds along the east coast north of
Fraser Island, becoming strong between Lockhart River and Cooktown. Light to
moderate SE to NE winds elsewhere.
Forecast for Saturday
A front over Victoria will slip into the southern Tasman Sea as a new high
moves across the Great Australian Bight. So the firm ridge and fresh SE'ly winds
will persist along the east coast tropical coast, with winds strengthening
further over waters north of Cooktown in response to the trough over the
northwest Coral Sea. Showers will increase with some rain areas and isolated
thunderstorms developing through Torres Strait due to the presence of the
trough. Isolated to scattered showers will persist along the east coast and
adjacent inland in the onshore wind flow. Moisture will increase further through
the northern interior, with possible isolated afternoon showers extending to the
far northwest border. Conditions will remain fine over the southern interior
with possible early light frost on the Granite Belt. An upper trough will
approach southeastern Australia.
Forecast for Sunday
The upper trough will amplify into central and southeastern Australia as the
high pressure system moves into Victoria. The high will maintain a firm ridge
and fresh SE'ly winds along much of the east coast. These winds will remain
strong at times north of about Cooktown. Conditions will remain fine over much
of the interior of the state, with just the chance of isolated showers over far
northern and eastern parts. Isolated showers will persist along the east coast
in the onshore wind flow, increasing to scattered along the east tropical and
central coasts due to the presence of a weak middle level trough. Widespread
showers and isolated thunderstorms will persist through Torres Strait due to the
slow moving trough.
Forecast for Monday
The upper trough will amplify further as it enters southwestern Queensland. A
surface trough will develop over the interior of the state in response to the
upper feature. Instability will subsequently increase with scattered afternoon
showers and possible isolated thunderstorms expected over the central and
southern interior north of about Charleville. Some high cloud will develop
through the Channel Country near the upper trough but with no rain due to
limited moisture in the low levels. The high will move slowly east into the
Tasman Sea, maintaining a firm ridge and SE'ly winds along the east Queensland
coast. Isolated showers will continue to move on to the east coast in the
onshore wind flow, remaining more scattered along the east tropical and central
coasts. Scattered showers and possible isolated thunderstorms will again occur
through Torres Strait and the far northeastern Peninsula. Isolated showers will
occur over the tropical interior.
Outlook for Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday
The high will move slowly eastwards into and across the Tasman Sea. The upper
trough will slip south and weaken as it progresses east over southern
Queensland. However, a new upper trough will intensify as it enters the Great
Australian Bight on Wednesday and most likely move east into far western
Queensland on Thursday. Moist E'ly winds will drive scattered showers on to much
of the east coast. These showers should be further enhanced, particularly over
the tropics and central coast, due to the approaching upper trough. Isolated
showers and possible thunderstorms will occur over the southern interior in the
vicinity of the first upper trough, becoming more widespread with rain areas
developing over western districts and the central interior on Thursday as the
next upper trough moves into western Queensland.
The next routine forecast will be issued at 4:45 am EST
Friday.
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This page was created at 09:00 on Thursday 17 May 2012 (GMT)
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