Aaron Bunch Journalist with Australian Associated Press | Collection of published work | + 61 484 008 119 | abunch@aap.com.au
Possible cyclone for far north Queensland
A low-pressure system is expected to bring heavy rain to Queensland’s far north and could develop into a cyclone, forecasters say.
January 24, 2019
An erratic low-pressure system sitting over far north Queensland could develop into a cyclone from Friday.
The weather system is sitting over Cape York Peninsula and is expected to develop further over the next 24-48 hours, the Bureau of Meteorology says.
“Any kind of system in the gulf can be quite erratic, and so there is a bit of uncertainty as to how that system will develop,” national extreme weather forecaster Jonathan Howe told reporters on Thursday.
“(It’s) sitting off the gulf coast … there is a moderate chance of it developing into a cyclone from Friday.”
The system has a 20-50 per cent chance of becoming a cyclone, with far northern communities warned to expect heavy rain that could cause flash flooding from Thursday.
Wind gusts of 90km/h are also possible.
Communities from just north of Cairns to Pormpuraaw, on the Gulf of Carpentaria, are under a severe weather warning, along with the Torres Strait.
A flood watch is current for major catchments in the region, with 6-hour rainfall totals in excess of 150mm possible.