Australia -- Queensland Weather Update

MELBOURNE - Mar 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 Strong Wind Warning is current for coastal waters between
Townsville and Point Danger, including Hervey 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 remain near
stationary over northeastern South Australia. An associated surface trough lies
over the Channel Country. A high [1026 hPa] over the western Tasman Sea will
move very 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 to
a weak low over the northwestern Coral Sea.
Forecast for the rest of 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 Maranoa. 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 central
interior. The focus of the monsoon flow is likely to shift eastwards to the
Coral Sea area as the monsoon low moves eastwards, however rain areas and
thunderstorms and moderate to heavy falls may continue over the tropical coast
and ranges. Scattered showers and thunderstorms are likely to continue over the
remainder of the tropics. 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 to heavy
falls likely with thunderstorms. Fine and mostly sunny conditions are expected
over the southern inland. 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.
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. Fine and mostly sunny conditions are expected over the southern
inland. 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. 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 low or tropical cyclone
over the north 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 4:10 pm EST
Tuesday.
Notice Board
Northwest Queensland weather radar installation complete
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This page was created at 05:30 on Tuesday  5 March 2013 (GMT)
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