Get ready for a wild weather ride along Queensland's tropical coast! A potential cyclone is brewing, and it's set to bring some serious rain.
The Bureau of Meteorology has issued a warning, predicting a tropical low that could develop into a cyclone. This system is expected to hit Queensland's north tropical coast, somewhere between Cooktown and Townsville, over the next few days.
But here's where it gets controversial... there's a 30% chance it could become a category one cyclone, but no one can say for sure just yet.
And this is the part most people miss: the potential for heavy rainfall is very real. We're talking up to 100mm of rain between Cooktown and Ingham on Thursday and Friday, with isolated areas possibly receiving a whopping 300mm!
Senior meteorologist Shane Kennedy explains, "Catchments are already very wet, and we're likely to see some river rises, especially on Thursday and Friday, and possibly into the weekend."
The Bruce Highway, which was flooded and closed earlier this week, has reopened, but floodwater is still draining, and some residents remain isolated.
Kennedy adds, "We expect similar impacts along the north-east tropical coast, whether it remains a tropical low or develops into a cyclone. The rainfall will likely be intense, and we may experience strong gale-force winds."
The Daintree Coast has already seen some of the highest rainfall totals in Queensland over the past 24 hours, with one weather station recording an impressive 334mm!
Tropical Low 29U, as it's known, could bring even more moisture to the already flooded catchments after it makes landfall.
"We expect Tropical Low 29U to move across land over the weekend, but it may draw deep moisture across a large part of the state," Kennedy says. "Eastern districts, possibly all the way down to the southeast, may see increased rainfall later this week and into the weekend."
And it's not just the tropical coast that's feeling the effects. Western and southwestern Queensland are still dealing with weeks of flooding, with catchments remaining in flood after heavy rain last week.
"It will take some time for the water to drain through the inland areas," Kennedy explains. "We had significant rainfall in December and January over parts of central and western Queensland, and then last week, we saw very heavy rain over the Northern Territory and far western Queensland, leading to major flood warnings across western Queensland. I expect flood warnings to continue for several weeks."
So, there you have it - a potential cyclone, heavy rainfall, and ongoing flood warnings. What do you think? Is this a cause for concern, or just a typical weather event for Queensland? Let's discuss in the comments!
