Australia -- Queensland Weather Update

MELBOURNE - Mar 16/13 - SNS -- The current forecast for the state of Queensland was released by Australia's Bureau of Meteorology.

Warning Summary at issue time
Strong Wind Warning for coastal waters between Townsville and
St Lawrence for Sunday.
Strong Wind Warning for coastal waters between Double Island Point and Point
Danger, including Moreton Bay, for Sunday.
Fire Weather Warning for Channel Country for Sunday.
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
The monsoon trough lies over northern Cape York Peninsula to Tropical Cyclone
Tim which at 10am EST was about 880 kilometres east of Cairns and moving very
slowly southwest. Tropical Cyclone Tim is expected to move slowly southwest and
weaken to a tropical low late Saturday, and then move in a general
west-northwest direction towards the tropical Queensland coast early in the new
week. A trough and strong S'ly wind change is expected to move over far southern
Queensland waters during Sunday afternoon and evening.
Forecast for the rest of Saturday
Scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms over Cape York Peninsula, with
more isolated showers and thunderstorms about the Gulf Country. Isolated showers
about parts of the tropical east coast. Fine and mostly sunny elsewhere. A very
warm day in the northwest. Powerful surf along the far southern Queensland coast
easing. Moderate to fresh S to SE winds along the east coast, tending SE to NE
over the southern coast. Mostly moderate SE to NE winds elsewhere. A Very High
fire danger in the Channel Country.
Forecast for Sunday
Scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms will persist over Cape York
Peninsula and the eastern parts of the Gulf Country. The southerly change will
bring isolated showers to the southeast, chiefly about the coast. It will remain
fine across the remainder of Queensland with only isolated morning showers along
the North Tropical Coast. Daytime temperatures should be above average over the
northwest and southeast of the state, but cooler in the southwest. Moderate NE
to NW winds along the southern east coast, becoming strong S to SE behind the
southerly change. Moderate to fresh SW to SE winds about the remaining east
coast, becoming strong SE'ly in the evening between Townsville and St Lawrence.
Light to moderate SE to NE winds elsewhere. A Severe fire danger in the Channel
Country. A Very High fire danger in the Maranoa and Warrego.
Forecast for Monday
The trough and southerly change is likely to spread north along the east
coast as a high moves over southeast Australia. As a result, showers are likely
to spread along most of the east Queensland coast and inland into the eastern
interior. Cooler conditions will spread to the southeast of the state in the
wake of the change. At this stage, the weakened ex-Tropical Cyclone is likely to
drift closer to the tropical coast, with a slight increase in showers and
isolated thunderstorms and strong gusty SE winds for most of the east coast
south of about Cardwell. Scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms should
persist over Cape York Peninsula and the Gulf Country. An inland trough is
likely to generate isolated afternoon and evening showers over the southern
interior. Fine in the west of the state.
Forecast for Tuesday
The trough will push further westwards over inland Queensland as the high
moves over the Tasman Sea.  At this stage, the weakened ex-Tropical Cyclone is
likely to move west-northwest off the tropical coast leading to strong winds,
scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms along the east coast between Fraser
Island and Cairns. Isolated showers are likely to spread along the remaining
east Queensland coast and inland into the eastern interior. Scattered showers
and isolated thunderstorms should persist over Cape York Peninsula and the Gulf
Country. Isolated afternoon and evening showers and thunderstorms will be
possible east of the inland trough, especially in the south as an weak upper
trough pushes over the area.
Forecast for Wednesday
The high will move east over the Tasman Sea maintaining a ridge along the
east Queensland coast. The ex-Tropical Cyclone will continue to weaken as it
moves northwest off the tropical east coast. Isolated showers and fresh to
strong SE winds will continue about the east coast, with showers tending
scattered with isolated thunderstorms and possible rain areas between Cooktown
and Rockhampton. Scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms should persist
over Cape York Peninsula and the Gulf Country. Isolated afternoon and evening
showers and thunderstorms will be possible near the inland trough.
Outlook for Thursday, Friday and Saturday
The high will continue to move towards and east of New Zealand, maintaining a
strong ridge, fresh to strong SE winds, and showers along most of the east
Queensland coast and adjacent inland. At this stage, there is still uncertainty
associated with the outlook for the tropics with forecasts highly dependent on
the movement of the tropical low. Early indications suggest that the tropical
low is likely to be near the north tropical coast with widespread showers, areas
of rain and some thunderstorms, possibly spreading into the adjacent eastern
tropical interior. These conditions are likely to contract northwards and ease
late in the week. Scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms should persist
over Cape York Peninsula and the Gulf Country. Fine and sunny conditions should
continue throughout most of the rest of the state.
The next routine forecast will be issued at 4:45 am EST
Sunday.
Notice Board
Northwest Queensland weather radar installation complete
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This page was created at 11:00 on Saturday 16 March 2013 (GMT)
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