Australia -- Queensland Weather Update

MELBOURNE - Dec 28/12 - 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 the Channel
Country and southwestern parts of the Maranoa and Warrego district for
Saturday.
For the latest warning information please check the Bureau's
web site www.bom.gov.au/qld
Weather Situation
A ridge of high pressure extends along the east Queensland coast. A surface
trough over southwest Queensland will move northeast to lie from the northwest
of the state to the southeastern interior during today. An upper level trough
over southeast Queensland will contract northwards to extend from the northwest
of the state to the Fraser Coast today. A low pressure system near the Solomon
Islands is expected to deepen further into tropical cyclone strength over the
weekend and move south through the Coral Sea well offshore of the east
Queensland coast.
Forecast for the rest of Saturday
Isolated showers over eastern districts, increasing to scattered about the
ranges during the afternoon with isolated thunderstorms, mostly inland.
Scattered showers and thunderstorms over the Peninsula district and through the
northwest of the state. Fine and dry in the southwest. Isolated showers and
gusty thunderstorms over remaining parts of the interior. A low pressure system
near the Solomon Islands will most likely deepen while remaining slow moving.
Moderate to fresh SE to NE winds. A Severe Fire Danger in the Channel Country
and southwest parts of the Maranoa and Warrego districts. A Very High Fire
Danger in the Northern Goldfields and Upper Flinders and Central West
districts.
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 Capricornia 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 with enhanced fire
dangers.
Forecast for Monday
The upper level trough will continue to extend from the northwest of the
state to the Capricornia coast. A deep, moist E'ly wind flow will most likely
combine with the upper trough to enhance showers and storms through eastern
tropical and central districts north of Rockhampton with moderate to heavy falls
developing. Isolated showers and storms will persist in an unstable airmass
through remaining northern parts of the state, more scattered during the
afternoon and evening. Conditions should be mostly fine through southern
districts with only isolated showers and storms west of Charleville and isolated
light showers near the southeast coast. The low pressure system or tropical
cyclone through the far eastern Coral Sea is expected to move further south,
well offshore of the east Queensland coast.
Forecast for Tuesday
The upper level trough will most likely persist from the northwest of the
state to the Capricornia district with scattered showers, thunderstorms and rain
areas persisting to its north over the eastern tropics and central coast with
some moderate to heavy falls south of about Cairns. Isolated showers will occur
along the Fraser and Capricornia coasts in an onshore wind flow. The remainder
of the state should be mainly fine with only possible isolated showers and
thunderstorms about the central and southern interior. The southeast coast
district should remain fine and mostly sunny with maximum temperatures becoming
warm. The low pressure system or tropical cyclone through the far eastern Coral
Sea is expected to move south, well offshore of the east Queensland coast with
swells likely to increase about the east coast of Queensland in response to the
system.
Outlook for Wednesday, Thursday and Friday
The upper level trough is expected to weaken and shift northwards through the
Queensland tropics during the outlook period, with scattered shower and
thunderstorm decreasing and contracting northwards. A surface trough will most
likely shift east over southern Queensland on Wednesday, with warm to hot
conditions ahead of a cooler S'ly change extending north. Isolated showers and
thunderstorms may accompany the passage of the trough, mostly near the southern
border. A high pressure system will then enter the Tasman Sea on Thursday,
extending a firm ridge along the east Queensland coast.
The next routine forecast will be issued at 4:10 pm EST
Saturday.
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Northwest Queensland weather radar installation complete
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This page was created at 21:00 on Friday 28 December 2012 (GMT)
© Copyright Commonwealth of Australia 2012, Bureau of Meteorology (ABN 92 637 533 532) | Disclaimer | Privacy | Accessibility
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