Aaron Bunch Journalist with Australian Associated Press | Collection of published work | + 61 484 008 119 | abunch@aap.com.au
Remote Qld evacuates over possible cyclone
A low-pressure system is building strength over the Gulf of Carpentaria and could cross the Queensland coast as a category three cyclone by Friday.
December 11, 2018
Residents in far north Queensland are starting to leave as ex-tropical cyclone Owen threatens to re-form into a category three system.
Residents from Normanton to Pormpuraaw have been warned to prepare, with the low pressure system, which is sitting over the warm waters of the Gulf of Carpentaria, expected to re-form on Wednesday morning.
The Bureau of Meteorology says the weather system could be a category three cyclone by Thursday and cross the Queensland coast by Friday.
On Mornington Island, 470km north of Mt Isa, some residents have already begun leaving as a precaution.
Mornington Shire chief executive Frank Mills says those who are staying need to be prepared.
“It’s time for people to make sure they’ve got plenty of supplies to last them a period of time. They also need to make sure their yards and accommodation are cleaned,” he told ABC radio on Tuesday.
“Anything that can become a missile in strong winds needs to be stacked away.”
A cyclone watch is current from the Northern Territory’s Cape Shield to Burketown in Queensland, including Groote Eylandt and Mornington Island.
The weather system has already dumped flooding rain in Queensland’s far north after crossing the coast near the resort town of Port Douglas early on Monday.
Forecasters predict the system will continue tracking west on Tuesday before looping back towards the Queensland coast.
Gales and heavy rain are expected from early on Wednesday.