Australia Weather News

Queensland could be in for wild weather this week, with the chance several low pressure systems in the state's north could form into tropical cyclones.

Forecasters say heatwave conditions are beginning to dissipate but it will remain hot in western parts of the state.Brisbane is expecting a top of 30 degrees Celsius on Monday.

The Bureau of Meteorology has predicted a low chance of a tropical cyclone forming in the Coral Sea by Saturday, as a monsoon surge moves from the western parts of the country.This will increase to a moderate chance by Sunday.

"It's been changing a bit from day-to-day," meteorologist Shane Kennedy said. 

"We're expecting one or more tropical lows to develop in the next few days, probably from Thursday. 

"There is the potential we could see one or more of those tropical lows develop into a tropical cyclone from the weekend on." 

Mr Kennedy said a separate tropical low could form in the Gulf of Carpentaria later in the week, with a 5–10 per cent chance of a tropical cyclone forming. 

"This far out, it's too early to tell which one or which ones might develop because sometimes if they're too close together, they'll compete for moisture and wind a bit," he said. 

"All across northern Australia, we're really moving into an active period in the tropics.

"This time next week we'll all be very busy as that rain starts up."

Heavy rain forecast

In the state's north, areas between Townsville and Cooktown could receive heavy rainfall this week that could lead to flooding. 

"We could see some daily falls in the 100–200 millimetre range or more on Monday or Tuesday," Mr Kennedy said. 

"It's a part of the state that's used to a lot of rain, but that'll definitely be a watch point [for possible flooding]."

Up to 90mm of rain is forecast for Innisfail on Tuesday.

The Capricorn Coast could experience showers and storms on Monday and Tuesday, but only "modest rainfall" totals. 

The heavy rainfall in the Far North is due to a high pressure system colliding with a trough in the northern part of the Coral Sea. 

Heatwave eases

There is relief for most of Queensland after the state copped hot weather last week. 

South-east Queensland is back to average daytime maximum temperatures with no rain forecast until Saturday. 

"Compared to last week where we had severe storms and heatwaves — it's nothing like that this week," Mr Kennedy said. 

"It should be a pretty benign week for the south-east." 

But Mr Kennedy said temperatures would remain high for western parts of the state, with Birdsville predicted to hit 45C most days this week and Mount Isa expecting top temperatures in the mid-40s.

"It's still pretty hot inland, so afternoon temperatures are still 2–6C above average … that's where we just have that lingering heat wave," he said. 

The Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast can expect some showers at the weekend, while Brisbane is expecting a mostly sunny week.