Australia -- Queensland Weather Update

MELBOURNE - Apr 29/13 - SNS -- The current forecast for the state of Queensland was released by Australia's Bureau of Meteorology.

Warning Summary at issue time
A Tropical Cyclone Watch has been issued between Thursday
Island and Cooktown.
A Strong Wind Warning is current for waters between Lockhart River and Mackay. A
Gale Warning has been issued for waters between Cape Grenville and Cairns on
Tuesday afternoon.
For the latest warning information please check the Bureau's
web site www.bom.gov.au/qld
Weather Situation
A broad, slow moving area of high pressure across southeast Australia and the
Tasman Sea extends a ridge along the east Queensland coast. A slow moving
tropical low [1002 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. There is a high probability the low will develop into a
tropical cyclone early on Tuesday as it approaches the far northeast of the
state, crossing over northern Cape York Peninsula 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. Very 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 clear
over remaining parts of the state apart from some high cloud extending east
along the southern border. Moderate to fresh SE winds along the east coast,
increasing to strong and gusty between about Lockhart River and Bowen. Light to
moderate SE to NE winds elsewhere.
Forecast for Tuesday
Squally showers and thunderstorms are expected to develop through areas
northeast of Cardwell to Weipa, with rain areas and some moderate to locally
heavy falls most likely developing from the east during the afternoon and
evening. Scattered squally showers and patchy rain are expected through
remaining parts of the Peninsula and North Tropical Coast and Tablelands
districts. 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. Moderate to fresh SE winds along the east
coast, increasing to strong and gusty along the east coast north of Mackay, with
gales expected to develop between Cape Grenville and Cairns during the afternoon
and evening. Light to moderate SE to NE winds elsewhere.
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 northern 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.
Forecast for Friday
The high will move north east across New South Wales, maintaining the ridge
along the east Queensland coast and establishing a dry and stable airmass over
much of the state. Isolated showers possible over eastern districts in the moist
onshore wind flow, tending scattered along the north tropical coast and central
coasts.
Outlook for Saturday, Sunday and Monday
The high will most likely move slowly north into southern Queensland during
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 begin to weaken late in the weekend as a new
trough moves east over southern Queensland early next week. 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 4:45 am EST
Tuesday.
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This page was created at 08:30 on Monday 29 April 2013 (GMT)
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