Source: Bureau of Meteorology

Issued at 7:46 am EST on Saturday 10 January 2026

Headline:
Tropical Low 12U is developing slowly as it moves towards the northeast Queensland coast.

Areas Affected:
Warning zone: Port Douglas to Airlie Beach, including Cairns, Innisfail, Townsville, Bowen and Proserpine.

Watch zone: None.

Cancelled zone: None.

Details of Tropical Low 12U at 7:00 am AEST:
Intensity: Tropical Low, sustained winds near the centre of 65 kilometres per hour with wind gusts to 95 kilometres per hour.
Location: within 85 kilometres of 16.1 degrees South 148.0 degrees East, estimated to be 255 kilometres east northeast of Cairns and 375 kilometres north northeast of Townsville.
Movement: south at 14 kilometres per hour.

A tropical low (12U) located in the Coral Sea between the North Tropical Coast and Willis Island is continuing to move south-southwest, towards the Queensland coast.

Tropical Low 12U is forecast to reach tropical cyclone intensity later today, before crossing the coast between Cardwell and Airlie Beach, most likely early on Sunday. Damaging wind impacts are likely to occur along the coast, with heavy rainfall areas developing just north of Townsville and extending to Airlie Beach during the day.

Hazards:
GALES with DAMAGING WIND GUSTS to 100 km/h may occur about the exposed coastal areas and elevated terrain between Port Douglas and Tully, including Cairns, this morning as the system tracks southwards and closer to the coast.

GALES with DAMAGING WIND GUSTS to 100 km/h are expected to develop over coastal areas between Tully and Airlie Beach, this afternoon or evening. Gales may extend to Proserpine and adjacent inland areas in the evening and tonight.

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

HEAVY RAINFALL, which may lead to FLASH FLOODING, is forecast to develop just to the north of Townsville and extend south to Airlie Beach as the day progresses. Locally INTENSE RAINFALL, which may lead to DANGEROUS AND LIFE-THREATENING FLASH FLOODING, is possible between Tully and Airlie Beach later today.

Tides are likely to be higher than normal between Port Douglas and Airlie Beach 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 Port Douglas and Airlie Beach, including Cairns, Innisfail, Townsville, Bowen and Proserpine, should take precautions and listen to the next advice at 11 am.

- 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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