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 Cardwell and
St Lawrence for Monday.
Strong Wind Warning for coastal waters between St Lawrence and Point Danger,
including Hervey and Moreton Bays, for Sunday and Monday.
Fire Weather Warning for Channel Country.
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 4am EST was about 826 kilometres east of Cairns and moving slowly
west-southwest. Tropical Cyclone Tim is expected to continue moving southwest
and weaken to a tropical low later today, 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 this afternoon and evening, extending further
northwards on Monday.
Forecast for the rest of Sunday
Scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms over Cape York Peninsula and
northern parts of the Gulf Country. Isolated showers developing in the afternoon
and evening in the southeast, chiefly about the coast. Fine elsewhere. Very warm
temperatures in the northwest and southeast of the state. 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 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 4:10 pm EST
Sunday.
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This page was created at 23:15 on Saturday 16 March 2013 (GMT)
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