Queensland Flooding as the Tropical Low lingers in the region / 18 MAR 2012

 The persistant and stubborn tropical low over the gulf is continuing to bring heavy rainfall to the Northern Terriorotry and Queensland. Flood warnings have already been issued and more rainfall is expected as we go in to the next week. Please continue to check in with the BOM for warnings and advisories.

The following is the 0104UTC Technical Bulletin.

REMARKS:
Dvorak analysis based on a curved band pattern with 0.25 degree wrap on log10
spiral and an added 0.5 for white band, giving DT of 2.0. MET and PT both
suggest 1.5. FT based on DT as it is clear.

Mornington Island radar suggests that the low level centre is now off the coast
and that the low has adopted a northwesterly track. SSMI-S 37 GHz microwave
image at 2231UTC also suggests that the low level centre is now off the coast.
The low exists in a moderate shear environment with favourable upper divergence
evident on the CIMMS satellite imagery. Favourable sea surface temperatures
greater than 30 degrees also exist across the Gulf of Carpentaria. 

The low will continue to move in a northwesterly direction today as the low
falls under the influence of a mid level ridge developing across central
Australia. The low is expected to intensify into a tropical cyclone on Monday
morning considering the favourable environment for development that the low
exists in.