Overview
- The system sits roughly 350 to 450 kilometres northeast of Cairns and is turning southwest, with landfall likely late Saturday or early Sunday between Cairns and Ayr.
- The Bureau of Meteorology has a cyclone warning from Port Douglas to Tully and severe weather alerts from Hope Vale to Mackay, and councils have opened sandbagging sites and urged residents to prepare.
- Forecasts point to isolated 24-hour rainfall above 350 millimetres, six-hourly bursts up to about 200 millimetres, and coastal wind gusts reaching 90 to 120 km/h with gales possible on exposed shores.
- Authorities warn of life-threatening flash flooding, river rises, landslides and increased tree fall because catchments are already saturated from recent monsoonal rain.
- After crossing the coast, the system or its remnants could track south and bring further rain into central and southern Queensland, with around 35 millimetres possible in Brisbane early next week.