Australia -- Queensland Weather Update

MELBOURNE - Mar 8/13 - 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 waters from Bowen to
Double Island Point.
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
At 4am EST, Tropical Cyclone Sandra was located over the Coral Sea about
1120km northeast of Mackay. A monsoon trough lies across the north of Cape York
Peninsula and extends to Tropical Cyclone Sandra. Tropical Cyclone Sandra is
expected to continue moving east southeastwards during this weekend before
taking on a more south southeastwards track from Monday, remaining well offshore
of the Queensland coast. A high [1025 hPa] over the southern Tasman Sea extends
a ridge along the central and southern coasts of Queensland.
Forecast for the rest of Saturday
Scattered showers and thunderstorms over the Peninsula and Gulf Country
districts. Isolated showers and possible thunderstorms through the northwest.
Isolated to scattered showers through eastern districts, with isolated light
showers and drizzle extending inland into parts of the central interior. Fine
and mostly sunny through the remainder of the interior. Moderate SW to NW winds
across the far northern tropics. Moderate to fresh SE to NE winds elsewhere,
strong at times about the east coast between Bowen and Double Island Point. A
Very High fire danger in the Channel Country.
Forecast for Sunday
The monsoon trough will continue to extend across the far northern tropics.
Tropical Cyclone Sandra is expected to move to the southeast into the central
Coral Sea, remaining well offshore of the Queensland east coast. Isolated to
scattered shower and thunderstorm activity should occur through the far northern
tropics north of about Cairns, more widespread through Torres Strait nearer to
the monsoon trough. The high in the Tasman Sea should continue to remain slow
moving while maintaining a firm ridge along the Queensland east coast. Isolated
to scattered showers will persist through eastern districts and extend inland
into the central interior. Fine and partly cloudy conditions are expected
through western Queensland.
Forecast for Monday
The monsoon trough will extend across the far northern tropics. Tropical
Cyclone Sandra is expected to move slowly south through the Coral Sea, remaining
well offshore of the Queensland east coast. Isolated to scattered
shower and thunderstorm activity should occur through the far northern tropics
north of about Cairns, more widespread through Torres Strait nearer to the
monsoon trough. The high in the Tasman Sea should continue to remain slow moving
while maintaining a firm ridge along the Queensland east coast. Isolated to
scattered showers will persist through eastern districts and extend inland into
the central interior. Fine and mostly sunny conditions are expected through
remaining parts.
Forecast for Tuesday
The monsoon trough is likely to remain across the far north of Cape York
Peninsula, with the monsoonal flow expected to freshen late in the day. Tropical
Cyclone Sandra is expected to continue its southwards movement over the Coral
Sea whilst remaining well offshore of the Queensland east coast. The high in the
Tasman Sea is expected to remain slow moving and should maintain a firm ridge
along the Queensland east coast. Isolated to scattered showers and thunderstorms
will occur over the Peninsula and Gulf Country districts, increasing to thundery
rain through Torres Strait near the freshening monsoonal wind flow. Isolated to
scattered showers will persist through the eastern districts and extend inland
into the central interior. Fine and mostly sunny conditions are expected through
remaining parts.
Outlook for Wednesday, Thursday and Friday
A monsoonal wind flow should persist through Torres Strait and over far
northern Cape York Peninsula, with rain areas and thunderstorms expected in this
area and more isolated showers and possible thunderstorms over the remaining
northern tropics. Some uncertainty exists with the movement of Tropical Cyclone
Sandra over the Coral Sea, though at this stage it is expected to remain
offshore of the east Queensland coast during the outlook period. Easterly swells
may increase over southern Queensland waters on Wednesday and Thursday,
depending on the track of Tropical Cyclone Sandra. The high should remain slow
moving over the Tasman Sea and extend a weakening ridge along the east coast of
Queensland. Fresh to strong onshore winds will continue to produce isolated to
scattered showers over eastern districts, particularly near the coast.  Fine
conditions should persist under a relatively dry airmass through much of the
interior of Queensland.
The next routine forecast will be issued at 4:10 pm EST
Saturday.
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Northwest Queensland weather radar installation complete
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This page was created at 19:15 on Friday  8 March 2013 (GMT)
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