AFTER good rainfall in some areas on Friday night, we woke up to a fine and clear Saturday.

Winds were light from the north-west for most of the day and the temperature was 28 degrees after an overnight low of 15.

Sunday was fine and clear with some cloud in the afternoon as an upper trough and associated surface trough moved through the region. Winds were moderate to gusty from the north-east and the temperature was 32 degrees after a low of 15.

Forecast

THE monsoon trough is sitting over the north-west region of the Gulf and a large, weak high in the northern part of the Tasman Sea is maintaining a weak ridge along the coast. An upper level trough and associated surface trough is making its way through the south-east. A new cyclone may make an appearance later in the week.

Today

TODAY should see the upper and surface troughs move over the Southern Downs to be sitting near the ranges by the afternoon. There is a chance of showers and a storm as these troughs move through but I do not expect heavy rain. It should be partly cloudy in the morning and clear to some high level cloud in the afternoon before a storm builds. Winds should be moderate from the north-east during the morning before swinging to the east during the afternoon. 18-34.

Tomorrow

TUESDAY will see the ridge along the coast strengthen as the upper trough sits over the Downs. This will generate instability to the east of the trough and may bring showers and some storms to the south-east once again. Winds should be light to moderate during the morning before swinging east in the afternoon ahead of the trough. It may be mostly overcast in the morning but this will break up during the day with some cumulonimbus expected to form in the afternoon. 17-32.

Wednesday

WEDNESDAY may see an intense low in the Coral Sea and a new high in the Tasman Sea and this will firm up the ridge along the coast while pushing the trough back towards the west. A new surface trough may also enter the west of the state. It should be overcast in the morning but this should break up to some high-level cloud by early afternoon. This will allow the atmosphere to heat and bring a potential of storms from late afternoon. Light winds should be from the south-east before swinging to the east by mid-morning. 18-31.

Thursday

THURSDAY has some models showing the low in the Coral Sea moving close to the coast and the high strengthen in the Tasman to maintain the ridge along the coast. The surface trough to our west should start to weaken but continue to cause instability. It should be overcast during the morning but break up to patchy cloud during the afternoon. There is a chance of a storm or two in the late afternoon as the trough breaks up. Winds should be from the south-east during the morning, tending east in the afternoon. 17-29.

Friday

FRIDAY should see the ridge firm and strength along the coast and push some moisture into the region. The new upper trough from the west should enter our region during the afternoon, giving us a chance of a storm or some showers. Winds should be light to moderate from the south before swinging to the east in the afternoon. It should be mostly clear with some patchy cloud during the day. 17-29.

The weekend

AT THIS stage both days should see some patchy cloud with a chance of a shower or storm in the afternoon. It should be around the high 20s for most of the weekend.