Australia -- Queensland Weather Update

MELBOURNE - Feb 20/13 - SNS -- The current forecast for the state of Queensland was released by Australia's Bureau of Meteorology.

Warning Summary at issue time
A Severe Weather Warning is current for Dangerous Surf about
the coast and islands from Double Island Point to the New South Wales border,
contracting to the Gold Coast on Thursday.
A Severe Weather Warning has been issued for Damaging Winds for the Gold Coast
and Southern Border Ranges for Thursday evening into Friday morning.
A Gale Warning is current for coastal waters between Double Island Point and
Point Danger, including Moreton Bay.
Flood Warnings are current for various rivers and streams.
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 into western Queensland. A low lies
off the east coast of Queensland about 300km east of Brisbane. The low is
expected to remain slow moving offshore of the southern coast over the next 24
to 36 hours, with strong to gale force winds and rough seas and swells
persisting about the coast south of Sandy Cape. The low is then expected to move
southwest towards the far southern Queensland or northeastern New South Wales
coast late Thursday. Some uncertainty exists with the movement of the low. An
upper level trough will approach the southwest of the state late Thursday.
Forecast for the rest of Wednesday
Scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms over areas northeast of a line
about Normanton to Mackay and also near the southern Gulf of Carpentaria coast.
Scattered gusty showers about the exposed southern coast and southern border
ranges. Isolated showers over remaining parts of the state northeast of Mount
Isa to Goondiwindi. Fine and mostly sunny in the southwest. Dangerous surf
conditions south of Double Island Point. Light to moderate mostly SE to NE winds
over northern and central districts. Moderate to fresh SE winds elsewhere,
tending fresh to strong and gusty SW to SE along the southern coast.
Forecast for Thursday
Scattered gusty showers and possible isolated thunderstorms about the Gold
Coast and southern border ranges, increasing to rain areas and isolated
thunderstorms during the evening with possible heavy falls developing near the
southern border. Dangerous surf conditions on the Gold Coast. Isolated showers
over the remaining southeast, increasing to scattered during the day with
possible isolated thunderstorms. Scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms
over northern districts and the Central Coast and adjacent inland. Isolated
showers over remaining eastern districts. Mostly fine in the west with just the
chance of isolated showers and thunderstorms near the southwestern border. A
cool day with fresh to strong and gusty SW to SE winds over the southeast of the
state, and possible damaging wind gusts developing about the southern border
ranges during the evening. Light to moderate SE to NE winds through northern and
central districts. Moderate to fresh SE winds elsewhere. A Very High fire danger
in the Channel Country and Maranoa and Warrego districts.
Forecast for Friday
Some uncertainty persists with the movement of the low, but the most likely
scenario is for the low to move southwest into northeastern New South Wales.
Rain areas and isolated storms should occur over the Gold Coast and southern
border ranges with possible heavy falls near the southern border, gradually
decreasing during the day as the low shifts further southwest away from
Queensland. Wind gusts about the southern border ranges are also expected to
decrease during the day. Isolated showers and thunderstorms will persist north
of about Normanton to St Lawrence, increasing to scattered north of Cairns. The
new upper trough will move into southwestern Queensland, increasing instability
through southern and central Queensland with isolated showers and possible
thunderstorms. A dry wind flow should result in fine conditions through the
northwest.
Forecast for Saturday
The low is expected to continue tracking west over northern New South Wales,
extending patchy rain and possible isolated thunderstorms towards the southern
interior border. The upper trough is expected to amplify through the interior of
the state, increasing instability over eastern Queensland. Isolated showers
should increase to scattered over the southeast of the state east of the Great
Dividing Range during the afternoon, with isolated thunderstorms developing,
mostly inland. Scattered showers and thunderstorms will occur through northern
and remaining eastern districts. Mostly fine conditions are expected elsewhere
with just the chance of isolated showers and storms north of about
Charleville.
Forecast for Sunday
The upper trough is expected to continue to amplify over the interior of the
state. The upper trough should combine with an increasingly moist E to NE wind
flow over the southeast and Capricornia districts to result in increasing cloud
and showers east of the Great Dividing Range with some thunderstorms also
expected. Isolated showers and thunderstorms will persist in the unstable
airmass through remaining eastern districts and through the far north, more
scattered near the central coast. Fine conditions are expected in the west of
the state in the dry and stable airmass to the west of the upper trough.
Outlook for Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday
The upper trough is expected to shift slowly southeastwards during the
outlook period. This will combine with a moist E to NE wind flow to result in
showers, rain areas and isolated thunderstorms over central and southeast
districts. Cool daytime temperatures are expected through the southeast due to
the extensive cloud cover. Scattered showers and thunderstorms should also
gradually extend west through the southern interior of the state due to the
presence of a surface trough. Isolated showers and thunderstorms will persist
over northern districts. Mostly fine conditions are expected in the west.
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 11:15 on Wednesday 20 February 2013 (GMT)
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