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 is current for waters from Lockhart
River to Cooktown for this afternoon then 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 south-east New South Wales will drift northwards
before being captured by the next high moving across the Great Australian Bight
on Saturday. A firm ridge will be maintained along the east coast into and
through the weekend.
Forecast for the rest of Friday
Isolated showers in most east coast districts, increasing to scattered about
parts of the east tropical coast. Scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms
over far northern 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 possible 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 winds along the east coast north of
Fraser Island, becoming strong between Lockhart River and Cooktown in the
afternoon. Light to moderate SE to NE winds elsewhere.
Forecast for Saturday
A new high will move eastwards  across the Great Australian Bight and capture
the high over New South Wales. So the firm ridge will persist along the east
coast of Queensland. Fresh SE winds will persist in most east coast districts
and become strong north of Cooktown. Showers will increase with some rain areas
and isolated thunderstorms developing through Torres Strait due to the presence
of a trough moving westwards across the north-west Coral Sea. 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
possibly 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 north
tropical and central coasts and the adjacent inland due to the presence of a
weak middle level trough. Widespread showers and isolated thunderstorms will
persist through Torres Strait.
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. The high will move slowly eastwards into and across 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 occur through
Torres Strait and over the far northern Peninsula. 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 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. Widespread showers and thunderstorms will occur over
the interior of the state from Wednesday onwards and increase to rain areas and
storms by Thursday.
The next routine forecast will be issued at 4:10 pm EST
Friday.
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This page was created at 21:15 on Thursday 17 May 2012 (GMT)
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