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 far 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 north 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 east 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.
Forecast for Tuesday
Areas of rain, scattered showers and thunderstorms over the northern and
eastern tropics with moderate to heavy falls, particularly about the east coast
and ranges from near Cairns to the Central Coast and Whitsundays. 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. Cool maximum
temperatures in central and southern districts. 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.
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 heavy falls about
the tropical coast and ranges due to strong SE winds converging into the region
south of the monsoon trough. 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 have
developed in this region but is expected to 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.
Forecast for Friday
The upper level low is likely to move over northwest Queensland and
eventually weaken over the tropical interior. Meanwhile, the high over the
southern Tasman Sea is expected to move slowly eastwards towards New Zealand but
will maintain a firm ridge with fresh to strong onshore winds and scattered
showers along the east Queensland coast and nearby inland with more isolated
showers over the eastern interior. The monsoon trough is expected to lie over
the far northern tropics and combined with the upper level low over northwest
Queensland is expected to produce scattered showers and thunderstorms over the
northern tropics. At this stage, there is a higher chance that the low pressure
system over the northern and central Coral Sea will have developed into a
Tropical Cyclone but it should be located well offshore of the north tropical
Queensland coast.
Outlook for Saturday, Sunday and Monday
A monsoonal wind flow should persist through the Torres Strait and over
northern Cape York Peninsula, with scattered showers and thunderstorms expected
in this area and over the remaining northern tropics. The broad upper trough
should decay over Queensland, with the atmosphere tending to stabilise over
western Queensland and showers and thunderstorm activity generally clearing from
this region. The high over the Tasman Sea should move eastwards towards New
Zealand but will maintain a firm ridge with fresh to strong onshore winds and
scattered showers about the east Queensland coast. The [likely] Tropical Cyclone
over the northern and central Coral Sea is expected to remain well offshore of
the north tropical Queensland coast during this period.
The next routine forecast will be issued at 4:45 am EST
Tuesday.
Notice Board
Northwest Queensland weather radar installation complete
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This page was created at 17:15 on Monday  4 March 2013 (GMT)
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