Queenslanders brace as cyclone officially forms
Tropical Cyclone Narelle has officially formed in the Coral Sea, with fears it could intensify into a category four storm system later this week.
Tropical Cyclone Narelle has officially formed, with the weather system expected to bring severe impacts to the state’s far north.
Currently classified as a category two system, Tropical Cyclone Narelle is currently sitting just over 1,000 kilometres east-north-east of Cooktown.
The system is expected to move toward the far north Queensland coast, and intensify to a category four cyclone before making landfall on Friday.
Cyclone watches are in place for the far north Queensland coast between Lockhart River and Port Douglas, with widespread flood watches also issued.
Robert Urbaniak from the Bureau of Meteorology said destructive wind gusts could hit the cape on Thursday from Lockhart River to Cooktown, with heavy rainfall across the region down to Port Douglas and Cairns.
The volatile storm is set to hit just as the area recovers from major flooding.
Mossman Gorge and Daintree Forest have already copped a deluge, and were inundated for a third consecutive weekend.
Douglas Shire Mayor Lisa Scomazzon said her community was still recovering and work was under way to get the Daintree ferry back operating, when flooding hit again.
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“Road crews have been working tirelessly to keep key routes open,” she said.
After it lashes Queensland, the weather system is expected to reform over the Gulf of Carpentaria and make landfall again in the NT later in the week – but this time as a category three system.
That could unleash gusts of up to 224km/h, with winds averaging up to 159km/h – strong enough to cause significant damage to structures, crops and trees.
-with AAP
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