Australia -- Queensland Weather Update

MELBOURNE - May 25/12 - 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 Gulf of Carpentaria
waters.
A Strong Wind Warning is current for east coast waters between Lockhart River
and St Lawrence.
Flood Warnings are current for various rivers and streams on the North Tropical
Coast.
For the latest warning information please check the Bureau's
web site www.bom.gov.au/qld
Weather Situation
A trough contracted off the east tropical coast early this morning and now
lies well offshore over the Coral Sea. Another trough will move east off the
southern coast this evening. A large high over southern Western Australia
extends a firm ridge into Queensland in the wake of the troughs. The high will
move slowly east over the Great Australian Bight over the weekend, maintaining
the ridge.
Forecast for the rest of Friday
Patchy rain and possible isolated thunderstorms over Cape York Peninsula and
Torres Strait. Cloudy and windy elsewhere over the tropics with patchy rain. A
cloud band with rain areas is moving east over southern central and southeastern
Queensland and is expected to clear the southern coast late this evening. Some
moderate falls are likely. Dry, cool and mostly clear through the west with
moderate to fresh SW to SE winds, gusty at times. Fresh to strong and gusty SW
to SE winds through the tropics. Moderate to fresh W to NW winds elsewhere ahead
of a fresh and gusty SW change extending from the west.
Forecast for Saturday
Patchy rain and possible isolated thunderstorms over northern Cape York
Peninsula and Torres Strait. Cloudy and cool elsewhere over the tropics and
through the central coast with patchy rain. Dry and cold over the remainder of
the state with widespread early frosts through the central and southern
interior. Cloud increasing over the southern interior during the afternoon and
evening but with no rain. Moderate to fresh S to SE winds over the tropics,
strong and gusty near the coast. Moderate to fresh SW to SE winds elsewhere,
gusty at times.
Forecast for Sunday
The high will intensify to around 1034 hPa as it shifts east into the Great
Australian Bight. The high will continue to circulate dry and cool SW to SE
winds through much of the state. Cloud will persist through the southern
interior though with only some light drizzle expected near the southern border.
Showers and possible isolated thunderstorms will continue over the tropics north
of Weipa. Cloudy conditions will persist elsewhere through the northern tropics
but with only patchy light rain expected. Fine conditions are expected over the
remainder of the state. Temperatures will remain well below the May average over
much of the state, with a cold morning and widespread early frosts through the
southern, southeast and central interior. Strong S to SE winds will persist over
waters through southeastern Gulf of Carpentaria waters and the northeastern
tropics.
Forecast for Monday
The large high will move further east through the Great Australian Bight.
S'ly winds will subsequently strengthen over southern Queensland waters, and a
strong SE'ly wind flow will also persist through northern tropical waters. An
upper level trough will move east over the southeast coast, increasing
instability. This will combine with the strengthening S'ly winds to generate
isolated showers along the exposed southern coast and Fraser Island. Showers
will continue through northern Cape York Peninsula and Torres Strait with
possible isolated thunderstorms. Cloudy conditions will persist through
remaining areas north of Cairns though with only patchy light rain expected.
Fine conditions will continue elsewhere with another cold morning and widespread
early frosts through the central, southern and southeastern interior.
Forecast for Tuesday
The large high will shift east into southeastern Australia. Winds will
therefore tend more moist SE'ly on the east  Queensland coast and remain fresh
to strong. An upper trough will persist over southeastern Queensland. Isolated
showers will occur along the east tropical coast and adjacent inland in the
onshore wind flow, increasing to scattered on the southern coast due to
instability associated with the upper trough. Patchy rain and isolated
thunderstorms will persist through northern Cape York Peninsula and Torres
Strait. Conditions will remain dry and cool through the interior with some early
frost possible over the Maranoa and Darling Downs districts.
Outlook for Wednesday, Thursday and Friday
The high will move slowly east towards the Tasman Sea. A new upper trough
will most likely develop over central Australia on Wednesday. A surface trough
should also develop near the western border, with the low level wind flow
tending more moist E to NE through the state. The combination of the moist winds
and the intensifying upper trough should result in a band of rain and
thunderstorms developing through northern Queensland on Wednesday and extending
south through much of the state over the remainder of the forecast period.
The next routine forecast will be issued at 4:45 am EST
Saturday.
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This page was created at 13:00 on Friday 25 May 2012 (GMT)
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