Australia -- Queensland Weather Update

MELBOURNE - Mar 4/13 - SNS -- The current forecast for the state of Queensland was released by Australia's Bureau of Meteorology.

Warning Summary at issue time
A Strong Wind Warning for northeastern Gulf of Carpentaria
waters, north of Cullen Point.
A Strong Wind Warning for east coastal waters between Torres Strait and Cape
Grenville.
A Strong Wind Warning for east coastal waters between Bowen and Point Danger,
including Hervey Bay and 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
An upper level low over southwest Queensland is expected to move slowly
towards the west-southwest and into South Australia tonight. A high [1026 hPa]
over the western Tasman Sea will move slowly to the east over the next few days,
maintaining a firm ridge along the southern Queensland coast. The monsoon trough
currently extends from the far northwest of the state to the tropical coast of
Queensland and into the Coral Sea.
Forecast for the rest of Monday
Areas of rain, scattered showers and thunderstorms over the northern and
eastern tropics with moderate to heavy falls, particularly about the central and
southern tropical coast and ranges. Scattered showers and thunderstorms over the
tropical and central interior, spreading to areas of rain over the Channel
Country and southern interior with moderate to locally heavy falls. Scattered
showers over remaining eastern and southeast districts, more isolated over the
Darling Downs and Granite Belt. Moderate to fresh SE to NE winds, fresh to
strong and gusty along the southern and central coasts. Moderate to fresh W to
NW winds across the northern tropics. A Very High fire danger in the Channel
Country.
Forecast for Tuesday
The upper low is expected to remain slow moving over northeast South
Australia, maintaining an area of scattered showers and storms and areas of rain
with some moderate to locally heavy falls over the southwest parts of the state.
Scattered showers and thunderstorms over most of the remainder of the state,
increasing to areas of rain with moderate to heavy falls over the northern and
eastern tropics due to strong SE winds converging into the region south of the
monsoon trough. The heaviest rainfalls in particular are likely about the
tropical coast and ranges from near Cairns to the Central Coast and Whitsundays.
A fresh to strong onshore SE airflow out of the high in the Tasman should
produce scattered showers over southeast districts, more isolated over the
southeast interior.
Forecast for Wednesday
A firm ridge along the east coast will maintain an onshore flow and scattered
showers about the southeast coastal districts, more isolated over the southeast
interior. The focus of the monsoon flow and trough is likely to shift eastwards
to the Coral Sea area, however rain areas and thunderstorms are likely to
continue over the far north. Scattered showers and thunderstorms are likely to
continue over the remainder of the tropics with moderate to locally heavy falls
about the tropical coast. The upper low is expected to move towards the
northeast again and approach the southwest border area, and continue to provide
instability over western Queensland with at least isolated showers and
thunderstorms, more widespread over the southwest with some moderate falls
likely with thunderstorms. Winds are expected to remain fresh to strong and
gusty SE'ly along the coast between about Cooktown and Sandy Cape, easing a
little to the south. With the focus of the monsoon flow shifting into the
central Coral Sea, it is likely that a low pressure system is likely to develop
in this region but remain well offshore of the tropical Queensland coast.
Forecast for Thursday
The upper level trough will maintain unstable conditions over the southwest,
with scattered showers and thunderstorms extending through western Queensland.
In the north, the monsoonal flow will continue to support scattered showers and
thunderstorms, with rain areas in the far north with moderate to locally heavy
falls possible. The firm ridge will remain in place along the east coast, and
this should continue to produce scattered showers along the east coast and
adjacent inland, more isolated over the southern interior. The low over the
central Coral Sea is likely to develop further as the monsoonal flow to the
north interacts with the stronger SE winds from the south. The deepening low is
expected to remain well offshore of the north tropical Queensland coast.
Outlook for Friday, Saturday and Sunday
A monsoonal wind flow should persist through the Torres Strait and over
northern Cape York Peninsula, with rain and storms expected in this area and
scattered showers and thunderstorms through the remaining tropics. The broad
upper trough should gradually decay over central Australia and the western
Queensland, with the atmosphere tending to stabilise over western Queensland and
showers and thunderstorm activity generally clearing. The Tasman Sea high should
move eastwards towards New Zealand but will maintain a firm ridge, fresh  to
strong onshore winds and scattered showers along the east Queensland coast. The
low pressure system is likely to have intensified into a Tropical Cyclone over
the northern and central Coral Sea by Friday, but at this stage is expected to
remain well offshore of the north tropical Queensland coast during this period.
The next routine forecast will be issued at 4:10 pm EST
Monday.
Notice Board
Northwest Queensland weather radar installation complete
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This page was created at 05:00 on Monday  4 March 2013 (GMT)
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