Cairns, Queensland

Weather Underground Forecast for Thursday, May 17, 2012.

In northern Asia, the weather pattern consists a weak low pressure system in the Sea of Japan and the other over Hokkaido region. As a result, unsettled weather will persist across the Korea Peninsula and much of Japan Thursday. Precipitation is expected mostly on the light side, but some moderate precipitation may occur over Honshu Thursday night and Friday morning. The Korea Peninsula is expected to dry out by Friday as the system in the Sea of Japan moves across Honshu, Japan.

Meanwhile, a stationary front extends from the Ryukyu Islands of Japan west-southwestward across Taiwan then into southeastern China. In addition, a board area of low pressure will remain in the Southeast China Sea. This frontal boundary combined with this broad area of low pressure will act as the main weather producer, with moderate to heavy rain and scattered thunderstorms. The system in the South China Sea will also impact portions of Indochina Peninsula, with widely scattered showers and thunderstorms.

Moving to Australia, a strong ridge of high pressure will hold over eastern half of the continent Thursday, while a weak trough remains over Western Australia. Expect some showers and isolated thunderstorms to develop along this trough over parts of South Australia and southeastern Western Australia. In addition, a cold front will brush through southern Western Australia and bring a few showers over southwestern tip of the continent. Moving eastward, onshore flow is expected to trigger some rain showers over western Tasmania and some coastal showers over Queensland and New South Wales.