Severe Tropical Cyclone Nora is tracking southeast across the northern Gulf of Carpentaria, towards the Cape York Peninsula though North West Queensland may escape the worst of the expected damage is stioll expecting gale force winds in the coming days.
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The Warning Zone is from Karumba to Mapoon, including Weipa and Mornington Island with a Watch Zone from the NT/Qld Border to Karumba.
As at 7am Saturday the cyclone is a Category 3, packing sustained winds near the centre of 155 kilometres per hour with wind gusts to 220 kilometres per hour.
The cyclone is estimated to be 250 kilometres west of Weipa and 415 kilometres northwest of Kowanyama and is moving southeast at 18 kilometres per hour across the northern Gulf of Carpentaria.
The Tropical Cyclone is expected to reach Category 4 strength later Saturday while over the northeast Gulf of Carpentaria.
The Tropical Cyclone is expected to take a more southerly track tonight or early Sunday and move towards the southeastern Gulf of Carpentaria coast.
A coastal crossing anywhere along the western Cape York Peninsula south of Weipa this afternoon or Sunday is also possible.
From later Sunday, the Tropical Cyclone is expected to become slow moving over the southeastern Gulf of Carpentaria or inland of the coast.
Gales with gusts to 120 kilometres per hour may develop in coastal areas between Mapoon and Kowanyama, including Weipa, this morning or early afternoon. Gales may extend south between Kowanyama and Gilbert River Mouth later this afternoon or evening, and between Gilbert River Mouth and Karumba, including Mornington Island, overnight Saturday. Gales may extend further south to between Karumba and the NT/Qld border later on Sunday.
Destructive winds with gusts to 160 kilometres per hour may develop in coastal areas between Weipa and Pormpuraaw, during today if Nora continues to track east southeasterly towards the coast. Destructive winds may develop between Pormpuraaw and Kowanyama during Saturday night or early Sunday.
Very destructive winds with gusts to 270 kilometres per hour may develop between Weipa and Kowanyama, during this afternoon or overnight, if the core of the cyclone nears the coast.
Heavy rainfall is forecast about Torres Strait and Cape York Peninsula and extend to the Gulf Country of Queensland later today and into Sunday, depending on the track of the Tropical Cyclone. Heavy rainfall could potentially lead to flash flooding in some areas.
As the cyclone approaches the coast, a storm tide is expected between Mapoon and Gilbert River mouth.