MELBOURNE - Apr 28/13 - 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 has been issued for coastal waters between Lockhart River and Bowen. For the latest warning information please check the Bureau's web site www.bom.gov.au/qld Weather Situation A high [1024 hPa] over the Tasman Sea extends a ridge along the east Queensland coast. A new high will move east over Victoria during Monday. A slow moving tropical low [1003 hPa] is located southeast of Papua New Guinea. The low is expected to deepen further and take on a westwards track through the far northern Coral Sea from today. The low has a moderate to high chance of development into a Tropical Cyclone, and at this stage will most likely approach the east Peninsula coast late Tuesday or during Wednesday. Forecast for the rest of Monday Mostly cloudy with scattered showers along the north tropical coast and ranges between about Cooktown and Ingham. Isolated showers along the remaining east coast and adjacent inland north of the Sunshine Coast and also through the Peninsula and far northern Gulf Country districts. Fine and sunny over remaining parts of the state apart from some high cloud extending east along the southern border. A cool morning over the southern interior. Moderate to fresh SE winds along the east coast, increasing to strong and gusty between about Lockhart River and Bowen. Moderate SE to NE winds elsewhere. Forecast for Tuesday The new high is expected to move southeast through the Tasman Sea towards New Zealand, extending a firm ridge along the east Queensland coast. This will combine with the tropical low/cyclone moving westwards over the far northwestern Coral Sea to result in possible gale force winds developing along the east Queensland coast north of about Cardwell. Squally showers and thunderstorms are also expected through areas north of Cairns, with rain areas and some moderate to locally heavy falls most likely developing from the east during the day. Scattered squally showers and patchy rain are expected through remaining parts of the tropics north of Townsville. Isolated showers will occur over the remaining east coast and adjacent inland in an onshore wind flow, more frequent about the central coast and islands. Isolated light showers are also expected to develop through the western Gulf Country during the afternoon as moisture extends from the east. Dry and mostly sunny conditions are expected throughout the rest of the interior of the state. Cool daytime temperatures are expected through the northern tropics under the cloud cover and rainfall. Forecast for Wednesday The high near New Zealand will weaken while a new high will build through the Great Australian Bight. Some uncertainty persists with the movement of the tropical low/cyclone through the far northern Coral Sea but at this stage it will most likely move west across Cape York Peninsula during the day, weakening as it shifts further west into the Gulf of Carpentaria late Wednesday or early Thursday. The system is expected to generate squally showers, rain areas and thunderstorms through the tropics north of about Cairns with some moderate to heavy falls likely. Winds should gradually decrease along the east tropical coast as the high weakens and the low shifts west. Scattered squally showers and patchy rain will persist over the remainder of the tropics, with more isolated showers through the western Gulf Country and remaining eastern districts. Dry and mostly sunny conditions are expected through the remainder of the interior of the state, though some high cloud may increase over the southwest. Cool daytime temperatures will persist in the northern tropics under the cloud cover and rainfall. Forecast for Thursday The new high will move east over Victoria, strengthening the ridge again along the east Queensland coast. A trough and an associated fresh to strong S'ly wind change will most likely move north along the New South Wales coast and enter southern Queensland waters late in the day. An upper trough will also most likely move east into southeastern districts, increasing instability with isolated showers and possible afternoon thunderstorms expected near and east of the Great Dividing Range. A moist and unstable airmass will persist through the northern tropics and Gulf of Carpentaria coast in the wake of the passage of the tropical low or cyclone, with scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms expected. Isolated to scattered showers will occur along the remaining east coast in the onshore wind flow. Fine and mostly sunny conditions will continue over remaining parts of the interior of the state. Outlook for Friday, Saturday and Sunday The high will most likely move slowly north into southern Queensland during Friday and Saturday, maintaining a firm ridge with fresh to strong SE'ly winds and isolated to scattered showers persisting along the east coast and adjacent inland in the onshore wind flow. The high should then weaken from Sunday as a new trough moves east over southern Queensland. This trough should extend some high cloud through southern districts though with little or no rain expected at this stage. The next routine forecast will be issued at 4:10 pm EST Monday. 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