Source: Bureau of Meteorology

Issued at 4:51 pm EST on Saturday 10 January 2026

Headline:
Tropical Cyclone Koji has developed, and is moving towards the northeast Queensland coast.

Areas Affected:
Warning zone: Innisfail to Mackay, including Townsville, Palm Island, Bowen, Proserpine and Whitsunday Islands.

Watch zone: None.

Cancelled zone: None.

Details of Tropical Cyclone Koji 12U at 4:00 pm AEST:
Intensity: Category 2, sustained winds near the centre of 95 kilometres per hour with wind gusts to 130 kilometres per hour.
Location: within 45 kilometres of 17.1 degrees South 148.1 degrees East, estimated to be 275 kilometres north northeast of Townsville and 225 kilometres east northeast of Innisfail.
Movement: south at 13 kilometres per hour.

Tropical Cyclone Koji (12U) is located in the Coral Sea offshore of the North Tropical Coast and is moving south towards the Queensland coast.

Koji, a category 2 system, is forecast to continue on a similar south track until crossing the coast. The coastal crossing is forecast for early Sunday morning between Townsville and Bowen. After crossing, Koji will weaken and then track generally westwards.

Hazards:
DESTRUCTIVE WIND GUSTS to 130 km/h are possible from this evening and into early Sunday morning about exposed coastal locations from south of Townsville to Proserpine.

GALES with DAMAGING WIND GUSTS to 100 km/h are expected to develop over coastal areas between Cardwell and Airlie Beach, this afternoon or evening. GALES may extend north, to areas between Innisfail and Cardwell this evening if Koji takes a track further west. GALES may extend south, to areas between Proserpine and Mackay, and adjacent inland areas overnight and early Sunday morning.

Gales are expected to ease as the system crosses the coast and moves inland during Sunday.

HEAVY RAINFALL, which may lead to FLASH FLOODING, is forecast to develop from Ingham to Proserpine tonight. Locally INTENSE RAINFALL, which may lead to DANGEROUS AND LIFE-THREATENING FLASH FLOODING, is possible between Townsville and Proserpine later tonight, extending south to Mackay on Sunday.

Tides are likely to be higher than normal between Cardwell and Mackay over the weekend but should not exceed the highest tide of the year.

A Severe Weather Warning is also current for heavy to locally intense rainfall and damaging winds about the northeast and central Queensland coasts. Flood Watches and Warnings are also current.

Recommended Action:
People between Ayr to Proserpine, including Bowen and Airlie Beach should complete preparations now and be prepared to shelter in a safe place.

- Boats and outside property should be secured before nightfall if safe to do so.

People between Innisfail and Mackay, including Innisfail, Townsville, Palm Island should take precautions and listen to the next advice at 8 pm.

- Stay informed by checking your local government s Disaster Dashboards for the latest updates.

- For cyclone preparedness and safety advice, visit the Get Ready Queensland website www.getready.qld.gov.au

IF YOUR LIFE IS IN DANGER PHONE TRIPLE ZERO (000) IMMEDIATELY. For non-life threatening emergency assistance contact State Emergency Services (SES) online via the SES Assistance QLD App (Apple, Android), online 132500.qld.gov.au, or call 132 500 from anywhere in Queensland.



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