Australia -- Queensland Weather Update

MELBOURNE - Sep 21/12 - SNS -- The current forecast for the state of Queensland was released by Australia's Bureau of Meteorology.

Warning Summary at issue time
A Fire Weather Warning is current for the Channel Country
district.
A Fire Weather Warning has been issued for the Central West district and parts
of the Northern Goldfields and Upper Flinders district for Saturday.
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 weak ridge along the east tropical coast of
Queensland. A trough extends from northwest Queensland to the southeastern
interior. The southern section of the trough will contract off the far southern
Queensland coast overnight and shift north towards the Sunshine Coast on
Saturday.
Forecast for the rest of Friday
Isolated gusty showers and thunderstorms over the southern interior east of
Charleville but with little rainfall expected. Scattered showers and gusty
thunderstorms [some possibly severe] over the southeastern corner of the state,
decreasing during this evening. Fine and mostly clear elsewhere. Moderate to
fresh SE'ly winds southwest of about Longreach to Goondiwindi and also through
the northern tropics. Moderate NW to NE winds elsewhere, fresh at times along
the southern coast. Severe Fire Danger in the Channel Country. A Very High fire
danger in the Northwest, Central West and Maranoa and Warrego districts.
Forecast for Saturday
Early morning fog patches over eastern districts. Isolated showers and
possible afternoon thunderstorms over central districts south of about Emerald,
the Wide Bay and Burnett and Sunshine coast. Fine and mostly sunny elsewhere. A
very warm to hot day over much of the state away from the tropics. A Severe fire
danger through the central interior [near Richmond and Longreach], decreasing
during the afternoon. A Very High fire danger over remaining western districts,
southeast districts and the Central Highlands and Coalfields and Capricornia
districts. Moderate E to SE winds over the northern tropics, fresh at times
along the east coast. Moderate NW to NE winds northeast of about Mount Isa to
the Sunshine Coast, fresh at times over the central interior. Moderate SE to SW
winds elsewhere, fresh at times over the southwest during the morning.
Forecast for Sunday
An upper trough is expected to move over southeastern Australia and extend
more middle and high level cloud over western Queensland but with little if any
rain. The surface trough is expected to lie from northwest Queensland to the
southeast coast, and should trigger at least isolated showers and thunderstorms
over the central and southern coasts and adjacent inland south of about Yeppoon.
A few light afternoon showers are also possible near the Central Highlands.
Conditions will remain fine and sunny elsewhere apart from some morning fogs
near the east tropical and central coasts. Temperatures will remain well above
the September average across the state away from the northern tropics.
Forecast for Monday
The surface trough will most likely deepen and extend through the central and
southeast interior as the upper level trough shifts east over the southern
Queensland border. Instability will therefore increase through central and
southeast districts with isolated showers and thunderstorms becoming more
widespread in the afternoon. Some patchy cloud and light rain may also occur
through the southwest during the morning due to the passage of the upper trough.
Fine and sunny conditions will persist elsewhere under the influence of a weak
ridge. Cooler S'ly winds will extend into the southwest in the wake of the
trough, while temperatures will remain well above the September average over
remaining central and southern parts of the state.
Forecast for Tuesday
The upper level trough will most likely contract off the southern coast in
the early hours of Tuesday, decreasing instability over southeastern Queensland.
The surface trough will also contract off the southern coast and shift north
into central waters during the day. A high moving east over southeastern
Australia will extend a fresh to possibly strong S'ly wind flow through southern
Queensland waters in the wake of the trough. Isolated showers and possible
thunderstorms are expected through central districts and the northern Wide Bay
due to the passage of the surface trough. Mostly fine conditions should occur on
the southern coast with just the chance of isolated showers. Fine and mostly
sunny conditions will persist elsewhere under the influence of a ridge. Cooler
temperatures will extend through far southern parts of the state in the S'ly
wind flow.
Outlook for Wednesday, Thursday and Friday
The high will shift east to lie near the New South Wales coast during the
outlook period, maintaining a ridge along the east coast of Queensland. Fresh SE
winds and isolated showers will extend north along the east coast, contracting
into the tropics during Thursday. The focus for thunderstorm activity will most
likely shift into western Queensland from Thursday as a new upper trough
intensifies and moves east over the Great Australian Bight. This upper level
trough and an associated surface trough will most likely shift east over the
interior of Queensland on Friday, generating a band of shower and thunderstorm
activity with its passage. Hot temperatures will again develop over the interior
of the state in the N'ly winds ahead of the trough.
The next routine forecast will be issued at 4:45 am EST
Saturday.
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This page was created at 08:00 on Friday 21 September 2012 (GMT)
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