What Queenslanders can expect from the weather to start the week

Queensland weather forecast tips showers and mild temperatures for most coastal areas In short: Queensland's far-northern, central and southern coasts can expect showers and cloudy weather, while Townsville and surrounds are forecast to escape the rain. Dry conditions are forecast for inland areas with mild temperatures. Wind gusts may push the fire danger from moderate to high in central-western parts of the state throughout Monday. Queenslanders can expect mild temperatures to start this week, although wet conditions are forecast for much of the state's coastline. Senior meteorologist Dean Narramore from the weather bureau said a large high-pressure system was expected to remain over the Tasman Sea for the next few days, creating cloudy conditions with passing showers along the Queensland coast. One coastal area is unlikely to receive rainfall, the Herbert and Lower Burdekin, with windy conditions prevailing off the coast of Townsville. "It's pretty showery in the south-east, also on the central coast and the north tropical coast but between about Cairns and Mackay, there's a bit less rainfall," Mr Narramore said. "Once we get further inland, we're looking at a dry and pretty much partly cloudy week as well for much of Queensland." Parts of the Channel Country and areas near the New South Wales border might receive rain brought by the upper reaches of weather systems interstate. Temperatures are expected to remain mild across the state. Overnight lows would likely drop to single figures in some inland areas but not enough for overnight frosts, Mr Narramore said. Fire danger mostly moderate He said a moderate fire danger was expected across the northern interior through most of this week. It was a busy weekend for fire crews on the Atherton Tablelands, west of Cairns, where three grassfires had to be brought under control on Saturday afternoon. Two of the fires were near Mareeba, with one jumping a rail corridor and crossing the Mulligan Highway, north of the town. It took crews about 2 hours to bring it under control with 17 appliances. Rural Fire Service Tablelands area inspector Anthony Staniland said the region has had its first wave of high fire danger and some brigades had already moved to a higher level of readiness. "It was quite a quick response from the brigades and the Rural Fire Service in that area … which was good to see,"he said. "What we're just trying to do at the moment is ensure that our landowners are aware of the risks. "If they're out doing work on their land … slashing or mowing or welding or grinding out in the field or the paddock … they should take extra caution." Yesterday, crews also fought a bushfire near Millmerran Woods in the state's south. Mr Narramore said some wind gusts might be strong enough to create high fire danger conditions around parts of the central west, including Longreach and Winton, today. "The good news is these easterly winds have a bit of moisture in them so we're not expecting those really dry, southerly or south-westerly winds this week raising the fire danger," he said. "From Tuesday on, more moisture, more cloud coming into the state means only moderate [fire danger] for the rest of the week."