Source: Bureau of Meteorology
Issued at 4:44 pm 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
Ayr to Mackay, including Mackay, Bowen and the Whitsunday
Islands.
Watch Zone
Cairns to Ayr (not including Cairns), including Townsville. Mackay
to St Lawrence.
Cancelled Zone
None.
Details of Tropical Low at 4:00 pm AEST:
Intensity: Tropical Low, sustained winds near the centre of 65
kilometres per hour with wind gusts to 95 kilometres per
hour.
Location: within 55 kilometres of 16.8 degrees South 153.5 degrees
East, estimated to be 380 kilometres east of Willis Island and 760
kilometres east northeast of Townsville.
Movement: south southwest at 8 kilometres per hour.
A tropical low (05U) is developing slowly in the central Coral Sea
and is expected to become a tropical cyclone tonight 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 2 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 are likely to develop
about the Whitsunday Islands from late Wednesday afternoon, they
may 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 is likely to
develop about coastal areas between Innisfail and St Lawrence from
early Thursday before spreading to inland areas later during
Thursday and continuing during 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. A flood watch is also current for these
areas.
During Friday, the system is expected to become a deep tropical
low and HEAVY RAINFALL may develop across central, western and
southern Queensland 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 Ayr (not including Cairns), including
Townsville. Mackay to St Lawrence, should consider what action they
will need to take if the cyclone threat increases.
People between Ayr to Mackay, including Mackay, Bowen and the
Whitsunday Islands should take precautions and listen to the next
advice.
- 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 07:07 AM