Source: Bureau of Meteorology
Issued at 10:35 am EST on Tuesday 23 January 2024
Headline:
Tropical cyclone impacts likely to begin for coastal and Island
communities from Wednesday afternoon.
Areas Affected:
Warning Zone
None.
Watch Zone
Cairns to St Lawrence (not including Cairns), including
Townsville, Mackay and the Whitsunday Islands .
Cancelled Zone
None.
Details of Tropical Low at 10:00 am AEST [9:30 am ACST]:
Intensity: Tropical Low, sustained winds near the centre of 65
kilometres per hour with wind gusts to 95 kilometres per
hour.
Location: within 35 kilometres of 16.3 degrees South 153.7 degrees
East, estimated to be 800 kilometres east northeast of Townsville
and 395 kilometres east of Willis Island.
Movement: slow moving.
A tropical low (05U) has been developing slowly in the central
Coral Sea and is expected to become a tropical cyclone overnight
Tuesday or early Wednesday. This system is forecast to track
southwest, towards the Queensland coast, over the next few days as
it intensifies. The system is likely to cross the Queensland coast
late Thursday between Cardwell and Airlie Beach as a Category 3
system.
In the longer term, the system is likely to track inland and south
as a deep tropical low bringing heavy to intense rain to parts of
central, western and southern Queensland.
Hazards:
GALES with DAMAGING WIND GUSTS to 120 km/h may develop about the
Whitsunday Islands from Wednesday afternoon, and extend to mainland
communities between Townsville and St Lawrence overnight Wednesday
into Thursday morning. GALES with DAMAGING WIND GUSTS to 120 km/h
may extend northward to coastal and island communities between
Cairns and Townsville during Thursday.
DESTRUCTIVE WIND GUSTS to 155 km/h may develop about coastal and
island communities between Cardwell and Proserpine including
Townsville and the Whitsunday Islands during Thursday.
HEAVY RAINFALL which may lead to FLASH FLOODING may develop about
coastal areas between Townsville and St Lawrence from late
Wednesday before spreading to adjacent inland areas and north to
Cairns during Thursday and into Friday. INTENSE RAINFALL which may
lead to DANGEROUS AND LIFE THREATENING FLASH FLOODING is possible
near and south of the system, most likely with the coastal crossing
during Thursday.
During Friday, the system is expected to become an inland rain
depression and HEAVY RAINFALL may develop across central and
southern Queensland from Friday and into the weekend as the system
tracks inland and then south.
As the system approaches and crosses the coast, a STORM TIDE is
expected between Townsville and Mackay. Large waves may produce
minor flooding along the foreshore. People living in areas likely
to be affected by this flooding should take measures to protect
their property as much as possible and be prepared to help their
neighbours.
Recommended Action:
People between Cairns to St Lawrence (not including Cairns),
including Townsville, Mackay and the Whitsunday Islands, should
consider what action they will need to take if the cyclone threat
increases.
- Information is available from your local government
- For cyclone preparedness and safety advice, visit Queensland's
Disaster Management Services website
(www.disaster.qld.gov.au)
- For emergency assistance call the Queensland State Emergency
Service (SES) on 132 500 (for assistance with storm damage, rising
flood water, fallen trees on buildings or roof damage).
Current
Tropical Cyclones
23/Jan/2024 12:59 AM