Australia -- Queensland Weather Update

MELBOURNE - Dec 20/12 - 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 has been issued for Friday for far
southern parts of the Channel Country.
For the latest warning information please check the Bureau's
web site www.bom.gov.au/qld
Weather Situation
A slow moving surface trough extends from the northwest of the state into the
southern interior. An upper level trough over southern Queensland is expected to
contract off the southeast coast late today whilst a new upper trough will enter
the southwest of the state on Friday. Ex-Tropical Cyclone Evan lies over the far
eastern Coral Sea [well east of 170E] and is expected to continue moving south
towards the north island of New Zealand. Powerful surf generated by the cyclone
is expected to affect the southern Queensland coast over the next few days.
Forecast for the rest of Thursday
Scattered showers, thunderstorms and rain areas in a band from the Gulf
Country through the central, southern and southeast interior east of
Charleville. Moderate falls are likely, locally heavy with storms, some of which
may be severe. More isolated showers and thunderstorms over northern parts of
the Channel Country and the western Peninsula. Partly cloudy over eastern
districts south of about St. Lawrence with some patchy light rain and isolated
thunderstorms inland and about the Gold Coast. Fine and mostly clear over the
east tropical and central coasts. Light to moderate NW to NE winds over most of
the state. Moderate to fresh S to SE winds in the far southwest.
Forecast for Friday
Scattered showers, patchy rain and thunderstorms from the northwest of the
state, through the central interior and into the southeast with some moderate
falls likely, locally heavy with storms. Thunderstorms will focus through inland
parts though may reach the far southeast coast late in the day. Mostly fine and
partly cloudy conditions will occur through remaining eastern districts south of
about Townsville with only isolated light showers expected. Isolated showers and
storms will continue about the western Peninsula, with mostly fine conditions
through the northeastern tropics. Fine and partly cloudy conditions are expected
in the far southwest. Light to moderate SE to NE winds across most of the state,
fresh at times in the far southwest. A very high to severe fire danger in the
south of the Channel Country.
Forecast for Saturday
A high in the Tasman Sea should extend a ridge along the east coast of
Queensland, with the surface trough retreating west as a result. The upper level
trough will move north to extend from the northwest of the state to the Warrego.
Showers and thunderstorms will therefore focus through western districts and the
western Gulf Country near the troughs. Mostly cloudy conditions will persist
through central districts and the southern tropics with isolated showers and
possible inland thunderstorms. Shower and storm activity should decrease through
the southeast as the trough retreats west, though is still likely about the
ranges. The likelihood of isolated showers about the northeast tropical coast
increases as a low level trough shifts west through the Coral Sea and increases
the onshore wind flow on to the coast.
Forecast for Sunday
The upper level trough should contract a little further north to extend from
the Gulf Country to the Capricornia whilst a ridge should extend along the east
coast. The trough over the Coral Sea will most likely shift further west on to
the east tropical coast, extending moist E to NE winds through northern
Queensland. This will combine with the upper trough to generate rain areas,
showers and storms through the tropics and northern central districts. More
isolated showers and storms are expected through the southern and central
interior. Isolated showers will occur about the Capricorn and southeast coasts
in an onshore wind flow, scattered about the exposed coast during the
morning.
Forecast for Monday
The upper trough should extend from the Gulf Country to the central coast
whilst the ridge along the east coast is expected to weaken. Scattered showers,
thunderstorms and rain areas should continue through most of the tropics tending
more isolated about the Capricornia coast. Areas south of about Boulia to
Gladstone should be mostly fine with only possible isolated showers and
thunderstorms, most likely about the southern border ranges. Isolated showers
are also likely about the far southeast coast.
Outlook for Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday
The upper trough should contract further northwards through the tropics
towards the Peninsula district during Tuesday and Wednesday. Showers and
thunderstorms will occur to its north, decreasing to isolated showers over
tropical areas to its south. A new trough will most likely enter far
southwestern Queensland early Tuesday and move rapidly east, reaching the
southeast coast early Wednesday. This trough is expected to generate isolated
showers and storms with its passage. Warm to hot daytime temperatures will also
extend through southern districts ahead of the trough before a cooler S'ly
change extends north during Wednesday. Another trough system is likely to move
into the southwest of the state on Thursday with further showers and
thunderstorms across the interior of the state and isolated showers about the
coast in the onshore flow.
The next routine forecast will be issued at 4:45 am EST
Friday.
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 17:00 on Thursday 20 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