Darling Downs and Granite Belt Forecast

Weather Situation

Tropical cyclone Oma lies west of New Caledonia and is expected to move southwestwards over the next few days, before possibly taking a more easterly or northeasterly track. This system will lead to a significant increase in seas and swells over southern Queensland waters mid to late this week, initially leading to dangerous surf conditions and abnormally high tides with possible beach erosion south of about Fraser Island in the next day or two, followed by the possibility of increasing winds and rainfall about the southeast over the weekend. Oma could also lead to gales and damaging wind gusts developing about the southern coast from Friday, with possible heavy falls from Saturday. A surface trough over the southwest of the state will move gradually eastwards over the next few days triggering the slight to medium chance of showers and thunderstorms over the interior. A high pressure system will move slowly eastwards across the Great Australian Bight over the next few days, extending a ridge and dry airmass into western Queensland in the wake of the trough. Maximum temperatures will rise to be well above average across much of the state during this week.