Gulf Country Forecast

Weather Situation

Tropical cyclone Oma lies in the central Coral Sea and is expected to move southwestwards over the next few days, before possibly taking a more westerly or northwesterly 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 eastern interior will move gradually northeastwards 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. Maximum temperatures will ease in the next day or so particularly about the southeast as cloud cover increases.