South Asia

Weather Underground Forecast for Friday, December 18, 2009.

A long trough of low pressure centered over the northern Pacific Ocean will reach back into northeastern China and the Sea of Japan on Friday to produce another day of unsettling weather activity across northeastern Asia. The system will support a smaller area of low pressure churning over the Sea of Okhotsk as it produces strong blustery winds and persistent light snowfall near the eastern coast of Russia, across the Kuril Islands, and in Hokkaido. Strong flow from the aforementioned trough will kick up active weather as it sweeps through northeastern China across the Sea of Japan, the Korean Peninsula, the East China Sea, into Japan. Strong winds will push moisture across the Sea of Japan into Japan, creating light to moderate rain and snow showers throughout much of the islands. The heaviest concentration of precipitation is expected in the west-central region of Honshu. While areas of eastern Honshu, including Tokyo will remain unaffected by showery weather on Friday, cold winds will yield to lower temperatures during the afternoon. Tokyo will rise into the mid-40s(F)/upper 0s(C).

Additional precipitation is also expected along the coastal areas of the Korean Peninsula near the Yellow Sea, while dry and colder weather develops elsewhere. Seoul will remain with daytime temperatures in the lower 20s(F)/-0s(C).

Further south, high pressure will produce another dry and mostly sunny day in the central and southern portion of eastern China. Shanghai will see temperatures in the lower 40s(F)/mid-0s(C), while Beijing rises into the mid-20s(F)/-0(C).

For Australia, Tropical Cyclone Laurence will pound the northern portions of Western Australia and the Northern Territory with heavy rainfall, strong winds, and thunderstorms. While Laurence is forecast to weaken as it moves through coastal regions near Derby, Western Australia during the next couple of days, it will continue to produce strong to dangerous weather conditions. To the south, colder temperatures and a line of light to moderate showers with areas of heavy rainfall and thunderstorms will develop behind a cold front pushing out of New South Wales. Meanwhile, low pressure in Queensland will support shower development in western and southern Queensland.

Sydney will see showers and cooler temperatures with highs reaching into the upper 60s(F)/lower 20s(C). Brisbane will remain dry and warm with highs in the lower 80s(F)/upper 20s(C).