Australia -- Queensland Weather Update

MELBOURNE - Dec 26/12 - 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 far western and
southern parts of the Channel Country district for Thursday morning.
For the latest warning information please check the Bureau's
web site www.bom.gov.au/qld
Weather Situation
A weak ridge of high pressure extends along Queensland's east coast. A
surface trough extends through western Queensland and will remain slow moving
through far western parts of the state on Thursday. A coastal trough and an
associated fresh S'ly wind change will extend north along the far southern coast
this evening and will reach the Fraser Coast during Thursday before weakening.
An upper level trough will contract off the southeast coast this evening while a
second upper level trough will enter the far west of the state during
Thursday.
Forecast for the rest of Wednesday
Scattered showers and thunderstorms through central west, southern interior
east of Quilpie and southeast interior with locally heavy falls with storms.
Some storms will likely be severe. The storms will focus through inland parts
but could reach the southern coast this evening. Fine in the far southwest.
Isolated showers and gusty thunderstorms over remaining western districts.
Isolated showers through the northern tropics, tending scattered inland and
along the west Peninsula coast with isolated thunderstorms. Fine over the
central and southern tropical coasts and adjacent inland. Moderate to fresh S to
SE winds over the far southwest. A fresh S'ly change extending north along the
far southern coast this evening. Light to moderate SE to NE winds elsewhere. A
Very High fire danger in the Channel Country district.
Forecast for Thursday
Fine and dry in the far southwest. Scattered showers and thunderstorms over
remaining parts of western Queensland with locally heavy falls possible with
storms. Some storms will likely be severe. Mostly cloudy in the southeast with
isolated showers, scattered near the coast during the morning. Fine over the
central coast and southeast tropics. Isolated showers and inland thunderstorms
elsewhere over central districts and northern and western parts of the Wide Bay
and Burnett and Darling Downs and Granite Belt districts. Scattered showers and
thunderstorms over the Peninsula and Gulf Country districts. Isolated light
showers clearing the northeast tropical coast during the morning. Moderate to
fresh S to SE winds along the southern coast and in the far southwestern Channel
Country. Light to moderate SE to NE winds elsewhere, tending N to NE through the
interior. A Very High   fire danger in the North West and Channel Country
districts, reaching Severe over far southwestern parts.
Forecast for Friday
The surface trough is likely to persist over western Queensland and northern
New South Wales. Showers and thunderstorms should focus near this inland surface
trough from the northwest of the state through the central and southern
interior. The upper level trough will most likely move east through southeastern
and central districts, increasing isolated showers to scattered during the
afternoon with isolated thunderstorms developing [though mostly inland].
Isolated showers and thunderstorms are expected through the southern tropical
interior. Conditions should remain mostly fine along the northeast tropical
coast and adjacent inland with only isolated showers due to some drier air
remaining in place. Day time temperatures will remain a few degrees below
average under the cloud cover and storm activity through the northwest into the
central and southern interior.
Forecast for Saturday
The surface trough is likely to weaken but remain near the southwest
Queensland border. The upper level trough will move north to extend from the
northwest of the state through to the Fraser Coast. The troughs will maintain a
broad unstable airmass over northern, eastern and southern Queensland with
scattered showers and thunderstorms, more isolated over southern districts to
the south of the upper trough. Fine conditions will occur in the far southwest
as a dry wind flow develops once again.
Forecast for Sunday
The upper level trough will most likely contract a little further north to
extend from the northwest of the state to the Capricorn coast. The surface
trough will remain slow moving near the southwest Queensland border. A broad and
unstable airmass will therefore persist through much of the state, with more
widespread showers and thunderstorms through northern and central districts to
the north of the upper trough and isolated showers and inland thunderstorms
through areas to the south of the upper trough. Conditions should remain fine
under a drier airmass in the far southwest of the state. A low pressure system
near the Solomon Islands will most likely deepen while remaining slow
moving.
Outlook for Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday
An upper level trough will most likely persist from the northwest of the
state to the Capricornia district during the forecast period. The surface trough
is likely to persist near the southwestern Queensland border. Scattered showers
and thunderstorms are expected to continue to the north of the upper trough
through northern and central districts, with more isolated showers and possible
inland thunderstorms to the south. A high will move east into the Tasman Sea
from Tuesday, reinforcing a ridge of high pressure along the southern Queensland
coast. The low pressure system near the Solomon Islands should remain well
offshore of the east Queensland coast during the outlook period.
The next routine forecast will be issued at 4:45 am EST
Thursday.
Notice Board
Northwest Queensland weather radar installation complete
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This page was created at 07:45 on Wednesday 26 December 2012 (GMT)
© Copyright Commonwealth of Australia 2012, Bureau of Meteorology (ABN 92 637 533 532) | Disclaimer | Privacy | Accessibility
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