Heavy falls of 200mm+, wind gusts and flash flooding forecast as tropical low approaches Qld’s North Tropical Coast
Millions of Australians are alarmed by a tropical low approaching Queensland’s Far North Coast; amid fears the system could dump up to 200mm of water in some areas and winds of up to 65km/h could hit coastal towns.
The Bureau of Meteorology’s latest severe weather warning, issued on Wednesday afternoon, states that a large tropical low (12U) has formed in the Coral Sea and will begin to slowly move towards the north-east coast of the Sunshine State over the next few days.
The renewed warning follows earlier concerns from the weather bureau that the system could become a tropical cyclone and merge with monsoon currents.
There is currently a 25 percent chance that the system will become a tropical cyclone; This risk will increase to 35 percent on Friday.
Gusty southeast winds are expected south of the current tropical low.
The bureau predicts that showers and thunderstorms will become more widespread starting Friday and continuing through the weekend.
The current alert covers the coastline from Hope Vale north to Hamilton Island in the Whitsundays.
In the bureau’s warning, “Heavy rains that may lead to sudden floods are estimated to develop on Friday and continue until Saturday.” The statement was included.
Six-hour rainfall totals are likely to be between 100-150 mm; Isolated falls exceeding 200 mm are also possible.
East to southeast winds (around 90 km/h) are also possible on Friday and Saturday, averaging 55-65 km/h.
Similar rainfall conditions are forecast to develop west of Townsville late on Friday night and spread to the rest of the Herbert are Lower Burdekin region on Saturday.
The bureau’s warning continues: “Six-hour rainfall totals are likely to be between 80-140mm, with isolated falls in excess of 180mm possible.”
“Conditions may begin to ease on the Northern Tropical Coast by Saturday evening but may continue into Sunday in parts of Herbert and the Lower Burdekin.”
Locations that may be affected include Cairns, Yarrabah, Wujal Wujal, Port Douglas, Hope Vale, Atherton, Mareeba, Palm Island, Cardwell, Ingham, Ayr, Townsville, Bowen, Airlie Beach and the Whitsunday Islands.
Some parts of the state have already been drenched with more than a foot of rain throughout the week.
Weatherzone said the heaviest falls occurred between Cairns and Townsville, with Cowley Beach in the Cassowary Coast region receiving 1284mm of rainfall in the seven days ending at 9am last Sunday.
Townsville alone recorded an increase of more than 500mm in the week ending Monday.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has already announced a jointly funded $38 million disaster package for parts of Queensland hit by severe weather.
In Mt Isa on Tuesday morning, Mr Albanese said the government was “working closely with the Queensland government” to get help to those in need as quickly as possible.
The aid package includes $21.5 million in disaster recovery grants of up to $75,000 to primary producers, $11.5 million for critical repairs and greater flood resilience at Cloncurry Airport, and $5 million for emergency animal feed.
A heatwave spreading across much of the country is causing temperatures to soar in Australia’s two capital cities, amid wet weather fears; Firefighters are battling several out-of-control wildfires Wednesday.
At least three fires in Victoria are said to be “out of control”.
A spokesman for the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) said: “Heatwaves kill more people in Australia than any other natural disaster. This is not just normal summer weather and although there is no need for people to panic, it is important not to become complacent.”
