Aaron Bunch Journalist with Australian Associated Press | Collection of published work | + 61 484 008 119 | abunch@aap.com.au
Cyclone Penny reforms and moves out to sea
Cyclone Penny has reformed after lashing Weipa on Tuesday night but is moving out sea and authorities can’t see it impacting the coast again.
January 3, 2019
Far northern Queenslanders will be breathing a sigh of relief with reformed Tropical Cyclone Penny moving away from the coast.
Penny hit Weipa with winds up to 110km/h and heavy rain on Tuesday afternoon – the worst cyclone the town’s experienced in more than 20 years.
The weather system was downgraded as it crossed Cape York Peninsula and moved into the Coral Sea, however, the Bureau of Meteorology warned it could redevelop and potentially hit Queensland again.
That warning was rescinded on Wednesday afternoon, with meteorologists saying although reformed, Penny was now moving out to sea.
“The system is too far offshore to be producing any significant impacts along the Queensland coast,” a spokesman said in a statement
The cyclone is expected to continue moving offshore over the next two days.
Despite its departure, Penny’s tail continues to dump heavy rain across far north Queensland.
A flood watch alert remains current for Cape York Peninsula catchments.
Rivers and creeks are already swollen after heavy rain soaked the region over Christmas, with parts of the far north receiving more than 400mm in the past week.
A 34-year-old woman remains missing after she disappeared in a fast-flowing creek near Cooktown on Thursday.