Australia -- Queensland Weather Update

MELBOURNE - Dec 12/12 - 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 coastal waters from
Cardwell to Point Danger.
A Severe Weather Warning has been issued for abnormally high tides for parts of
the Wide Bay Burnett and Southeast Coast districts for Thursday.
For the latest warning information please check the Bureau's
web site www.bom.gov.au/qld
Weather Situation
A high [1034 hPa] over the southern Tasman Sea extends a ridge over the east
coast of Queensland. The high is expected to weaken and move towards New Zealand
on Thursday. A surface trough lies just west of the Queensland border. An upper
level trough over the Tasman Sea tilts back into eastern Australia and is
expected to shift north across southeastern Queensland this evening and the
central coast on Thursday while intensifying. A weak surface trough extends
across the Coral Sea and should move slowly westwards and deepen during
Thursday.
Forecast for the rest of Wednesday
Scattered showers along the east coast, more isolated over the adjacent
inland. Isolated showers and gusty thunderstorms over western districts and the
Gulf Country, tending scattered over the western Gulf Country. Mostly fine about
the Gulf of Carpentaria coast with some possible late showers or thunderstorms.
Fine and partly cloudy over the remainder of the state. Fresh to strong and
gusty SE winds along the east coast. Light to moderate SE to NE winds elsewhere,
fresh and gusty at times over parts of the interior.
Forecast for Thursday
Isolated showers along the east coast and adjacent inland, tending scattered
about the North Tropical Coast and the southeast Queensland coast. Scattered
showers and gusty thunderstorms over the Gulf Country and northern parts of the
North West. Mostly fine about the Gulf of Carpentaria coast with some possible
late showers or thunderstorms. Fine and partly cloudy over the remainder of the
state. Fresh to strong and gusty SE winds along the east coast. Light to
moderate SE to NE winds elsewhere, fresh and gusty at times over parts of the
interior. A Very High fire danger over western districts, the Northern
Goldfields and Upper Flinders, Herbert and Lower Burdekin, Central Highlands and
Coalfields, Capricornia, Wide Bay and Burnett and Darling Downs and Granite Belt
districts.
Forecast for Friday
The high is expected to continue moving east past New Zealand weakening the
ridge further. The trough over the Coral Sea should move slowly west pushing a
drier S'ly airstream over eastern districts resulting in decreasing shower
activity. Increasing winds over the southern Coral Sea are also likely to
generate larger swells along the southern Queensland coast. Residual instability
in the northwest may continue to produce scattered showers and thunderstorms.
Fine over the remainder of the state.
Forecast for Saturday
A weak ridge should persist along the east coast of Queensland. The trough
over the Coral Sea should continue moving slowly west in a weakening mode,
however larger swells are likely to be maintained over the southwest Coral Sea.
The weak surface trough over central Australia is expected to move east into the
far southwest of Queensland early, ahead of the next upper level trough moving
through the Great Australian Bight.  The weakening ridge across the tropics will
help to direct moist N'ly winds into western parts of the state ahead of the
surface trough. Showers and thunderstorms are therefore likely across western
parts of the state, extending from the Peninsula, south into the southern
interior, and spreading to thundery rain over the southwest during the evening.
Fine over the remainder of the state. Warm to hot daytime temperatures expected
over the southwest and southern interior.
Forecast for Sunday
The weak ridge is expected to persist along the east coast. The trough over
the Coral Sea should move slowly eastwards and continue weakening with swells
slowly decreasing. The upper level trough is expected to move east over
southeastern Australia but the surface trough should remain over the southwest
of the state. Persistent moist N'ly winds ahead of the surface trough and
increasing instability associated with the upper level trough will help to
produce widespread areas of showers and thunderstorms, with only the tropical
coast and eastern districts remaining fine. Warm to hot daytime temperatures
expected over the southern interior.
Outlook for Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday
The surface trough is expected to move slowly east but remain over the
interior with showers and thunderstorms likely to continue to its east, fine
conditions should spread to the southwest of the state in its wake. Warm to hot
daytime temperatures expected over the southeast on Monday.
The next routine forecast will be issued at 4:45 am EST
Thursday.
Notice Board
Northwest Queensland weather radar installation complete
Media Releases
Meteorological Offices
Cairns weather
Charleville weather
Longreach weather
Mackay weather
Mount Isa weather
Rockhampton weather
Townsville weather
Weipa weather
Other Information
About Weather Forecast Services
About Warning Services
Warnings
Water
Climate
Environment
Tropical Cyclones
Tsunami Warning Centre
Agriculture - Water and the Land
Marine & Ocean
UV & Sun Protection
Rainfall & River Conditions
Graphical Views
Radar
Maps
Rainfall Forecasts
Seasonal Outlooks
Climate Variability & Change
Climate Data Online
Seasonal Streamflow Forecasts
Water Storage
Forecast Explorer™
National Weather Services
Aviation Weather Services
Defence Services
Space Weather Services
Registered User Services
Commercial Weather Services
Careers
Sitemap
Feedback
Freedom of Information
Indigenous Weather Knowledge
Glossary
This page was created at 13:00 on Wednesday 12 December 2012 (GMT)
© Copyright Commonwealth of Australia 2012, Bureau of Meteorology (ABN 92 637 533 532) | Disclaimer | Privacy | Accessibility
var hostname = window.location.hostname;
var host = hostname.split(".");
if (host[0] == "reg")
var _gaq = _gaq || [];
_gaq.push(['_setAccount', 'UA-20386085-1']);
_gaq.push(['_trackPageview']);
else if (host[0] == "www")
var _gaq = _gaq || [];
_gaq.push(['_setAccount', 'UA-3816559-1']);
_gaq.push(['_trackPageview']);
else if (host[0] == "wdev")
var _gaq = _gaq || [];
_gaq.push(['_setAccount', 'UA-21709175-1']);
_gaq.push(['_trackPageview']);
(function() {
var ga = document.createElement('script'); ga.type = 'text/javascript'; ga.async = true;
ga.src = ('https:' == document.location.protocol ? 'https://ssl' : 'http://www') + '.google-analytics.com/ga.js';
var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(ga, s);
})();

---

STAT News Service