Australia -- Queensland Weather Update

MELBOURNE - Jan 5/13 - 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 North West, Channel
Country and Central West districts and parts of the Northern Goldfields and
Upper Flinders and Maranoa and Warrego districts.
For the latest warning information please check the Bureau's
web site www.bom.gov.au/qld
Weather Situation
A high in the Tasman Sea extends a ridge along the Queensland east coast
which will be reinforced by new high that will move over southeast Australia
during today. A surface trough will remain slow moving over central Australia. A
prolonged hot spell is occurring through western Queensland due to N'ly winds
ahead of this trough. A weak upper trough will move from southeast Queensland
into the central interior today.
Forecast for the rest of Sunday
Isolated showers about eastern districts, scattered along the northeast
tropical coast. Isolated showers and thunderstorms over the northern Peninsula
and western Gulf Country, increasing to scattered showers and thunderstorms
through Torres Strait. Isolated gusty showers and possible thunderstorms through
the southwest of the state though with little or no rain. A hot day through
western Queensland and the Peninsula and Gulf Country districts with moderate to
fresh SE to NE winds, gusty at times. Moderate to fresh SE winds along the east
coast, gusty north of Fraser Island. Severe to Extreme fire dangers in the
Channel Country. Very High to Severe Fire dangers through remaining western
districts and the Northern Goldfields and Upper Flinders district. A Very High
fire danger in the Herbert and Lower Burdekin, Central Highlands and Coalfields,
Capricornia and Darling Downs and Granite Belt districts.
Forecast for Monday
The high will weaken as it moves east into the Tasman Sea, slightly relaxing
the ridge along the east coast. Showers will remain scattered along the
northeast tropical coast but should decrease to isolated along the remaining
east coast during the morning. Isolated light showers will extend into the
eastern interior. A monsoon trough is expected to deepen through the Gulf of
Papua and northwestern Coral Sea, with rain areas developing through Torres
Strait. Scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms will occur through the
remaining Peninsula district and near the Gulf of Carpentaria coast. Mostly fine
conditions will occur through western Queensland with just the chance of
isolated gusty showers and thunderstorms though with little or no rain.
Temperatures will remain well above the January average through western
districts of Queensland and the western tropics.
Forecast for Tuesday
A trough will approach the southwestern border of the state and become slow
moving. Warm to hot N'ly winds will  continue to affect western Queensland and
extend into the southeastern interior. The monsoon trough will most likely
continue to deepen through the Gulf of Papua and the northwestern Coral Sea with
rain areas and storms persisting through Torres Strait and scattered showers and
isolated thunderstorms through the remaining Peninsula district. A weak ridge
will persist along the east Queensland coast, with isolated showers moving onto
the coast and adjacent inland in the onshore wind flow north of about Fraser
Island, remaining more scattered about the northeast tropical coast. Conditions
should remain fine through the interior apart from the chance of isolated
showers and storms in the far west.
Forecast for Wednesday
The ridge along the east coast will continue to weaken whilst a trough is
likely to move northwards into the far south of the state. This trough may
trigger isolated showers and thunderstorms about the southeast interior,
particularly over the ranges. The monsoon trough should persist through the Gulf
of Papua and northwestern Coral Sea with rain areas and storms through Torres
Strait. Isolated showers and thunderstorms are expected elsewhere in the
Peninsula district and about the Gulf Country. Isolated showers will persist
about the North Tropical Coast in the weak onshore flow. Fine conditions are
expected elsewhere. Maximum temperatures will be well above the January average
across much of the state, particularly through western and southern
districts.
Outlook for Thursday, Friday and Saturday
A trough will most likely remain slow moving near the southern Queensland
border during the outlook period. Hot conditions will persist through much of
the state, with maximum temperatures expected to be 5 to 10 degrees above the
January average through southern and western districts in particular during the
outlook period. The monsoon trough will persist through the northwestern Coral
Sea where a weak low may form. Scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms will
continue through the Peninsula district, increasing to rain at times through
Torres Strait. Mostly fine conditions are expected through remaining parts of
the state, with just the chance of isolated showers and thunderstorms near the
southern border and through the far northwest though with little or no rain.
The next routine forecast will be issued at 4:10 pm EST
Sunday.
Notice Board
Northwest Queensland weather radar installation complete
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This page was created at 01:00 on Sunday  6 January 2013 (GMT)
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