Australia -- Queensland Weather Update

MELBOURNE - Feb 15/13 - SNS -- The current forecast for the state of Queensland was released by Australia's Bureau of Meteorology.

Warning Summary at issue time
A Flood Warning is current for the Balonne River.
For the latest warning information please check the Bureau's
web site www.bom.gov.au/qld
Weather Situation
A high near Tasmania extends a ridge of high pressure along the east coast of
Queensland. An upper level low situated over the Tasman Sea extends an upper
trough across Queensland's southern districts, and a weak surface trough extends
across western Queensland.
Forecast for the rest of Saturday
Scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms over eastern districts south of
about Cardwell. Isolated showers and thunderstorms elsewhere, although mostly
fine conditions over the Darling Downs and Maranoa. Showers and thunderstorms
tending more scattered about the northern tropics, the northwest and the
southern interior. Some locally moderate falls likely about the southwest and
near the central coast. Cooler than average maximum temperatures expected over
eastern districts and the southern interior. Moderate to fresh SE winds about
the east coast and light to moderate SE to NE winds over the interior.
Forecast for Sunday
The high should drift a little further east of Tasmania with onshore flow
continuing to push moisture into eastern districts. The upper level low is
expected to move west over New South Wales, while the upper trough over western
Queensland will also amplify and move northeast across the interior of the
state. This will increase the instability across western districts, and should
lead to an increase in shower and thunderstorm activity over western Queensland
and the tropical interior, tending to rain overnight, with some moderate to
locally heavy falls likely. Scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms are
expected over remaining eastern districts and should extend to the eastern
interior during the afternoon and evening. It should remain mostly fine over the
SE inland. Cloud cover should keep maximum temperatures over much of the state
below the February average.
Forecast for Monday
The upper level trough should shift slowly northeast to extend from
Queensland's northwest to the southern interior, with instability and moist
airmass remaining in place over northern and central districts. The high is
expected to move further east to be near New Zealand, continuing to inject
moisture over much of the state. Scattered showers and thunderstorms are
therefore expected over northern, central and western districts, tending to rain
areas with some moderate to heavy falls over central districts, the southern
tropics and the Central West. Scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms over
remaining eastern districts, possibly tending to rain at times near the coast.
Fine and partly cloudy over the southern interior. Cloud cover should keep
maximum temperatures over much of the state up to 3 to 6 degrees below the
February average.
Forecast for Tuesday
The high is expected to weaken and move east of New Zealand, relaxing the
ridge along the east coast. The upper level trough should shift eastwards over
eastern districts. A surface trough with an embedded low is expected to develop
over the western Coral Sea and should move slowly away from the coast. Scattered
showers and thunderstorms are expected over northern, central and southeastern
districts as well as the Central West. Rain areas may also occur over central
and southeastern districts ahead of the upper trough. Fine and mostly sunny
conditions should occur over remaining parts of the state in the wake of the
tough.
Outlook for Wednesday, Thursday and Friday
The upper level trough should shift eastwards during Wednesday with the focus
for shower and thunderstorm activity shifting to the northern and eastern
tropics. The surface low over the western Coral Sea may be close enough to the
southeast Queensland coast to produce strong or even gale force winds in the
coastal waters, and a continuation of showery and windy conditions near the
coast. These conditions would ease on Thursday as the low moves away from the
coast. Some isolated shower activity should eventually return to eastern
districts as a ridge is expected to gradually build along the east coast as the
Coral Sea low moves slowly eastwards.
The next routine forecast will be issued at 4:10 pm EST
Saturday.
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 21:00 on Friday 15 February 2013 (GMT)
© Copyright Commonwealth of Australia 2013, 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