Tropical Cyclone Kirrily likely to cross the coast between Ingham and Bowen tonight. Gales now occurring over Whitsunday Islands, to extend to the mainland today.
Areas affected:
Warning zone: Innisfail to Sarina, including Townsville, Mackay, Bowen, the Whitsunday Islands, and extending inland to Charters Towers.
Watch zone: None.
Cancelled zones: None.
Details of Tropical Cyclone Kirrily at 4:00 am AEST:
Intensity: category 1, sustained winds near the centre of 75 kilometres per hour with wind gusts to 100 kilometres per hour.
Location: within 55 kilometres of 17.7 degrees South, 150.4 degrees East , 420 kilometres east northeast of Townsville and 405 kilometres north northeast of Mackay .
Movement: west at 17 kilometres per hour .
Tropical Cyclone Kirrily is expected to continue strengthening as it tracks west southwest towards the Queensland coast. The system is likely to cross the Queensland coast tonight, in the vicinity of Townsville, as a Category 2 system.
In the longer term, the system is likely to track further inland as a tropical low, resulting in heavy to intense rain to parts of the northern interior and western Queensland.
Hazards:
GALES with DAMAGING WIND GUSTS to 120 km/h are occurring over the Whitsunday Islands and are expected to extend to mainland communities between Ayr and Sarina during the morning. GALES with DAMAGING WIND GUSTS to 120 km/h are expected to extend northward to coastal and island communities between Ayr and Innisfail, including Townsville, during this afternoon and evening.
DESTRUCTIVE WIND GUSTS to 140 km/h are expected to develop about coastal and island communities between Ayr and Bowen, during this evening extending north to Ingham, including Townsville tonight. DESTRUCTIVE WIND GUSTS to 140 km/h may extend south to Proserpine, including the Whitsunday Islands this evening if the system take a more southerly track.
GALES with DAMAGING WIND GUSTS to 90 km/h are expected to extend to inland areas including Charters Towers overnight tonight into Friday morning.
HEAVY RAINFALL which may lead to FLASH FLOODING is likely to develop about coastal areas between Innisfail and Sarina during this morning before spreading to inland areas later the day and continuing during Friday. INTENSE RAINFALL which may lead to DANGEROUS AND LIFE THREATENING FLASH FLOODING is possible near the track of the system, most likely with the coastal crossing during today and Friday. A flood watch is also current for these areas.
During Friday, the system is expected to become a tropical low and HEAVY RAINFALL may develop across the northern interior and western Queensland into the weekend as the system tracks inland.
As the system approaches and crosses the coast, a STORM TIDE is expected between Townsville and Mackay. Large waves may produce minor flooding along the foreshore. People living in areas likely to be affected by this flooding should take measures to protect their property as much as possible and be prepared to help their neighbours.
Recommended Action:
People between Innisfail and Sarina, including Townsville, Bowen, Mackay, and the Whitsunday Islands, should immediately commence or continue preparations, especially securing boats and property using available daylight hours.
People in inland areas to Charters Towers should take precautions and listen to the next advice.
- Information is available from your local government
- For cyclone preparedness and safety advice, visit Queensland's Disaster Management Services website (www.disaster.qld.gov.au)
- For emergency assistance call the Queensland State Emergency Service (SES) on 132 500 (for assistance with storm damage, rising flood water, fallen trees on buildings or roof damage).
- If you choose to take shelter away from your home, stay COVID-19 safe and pack a mask and hand sanitiser (if you have them).