Tropical cyclone Imogen has weakened to a tropical low but remains a dangerous system with widespread flooding rainfall expected over northern Queensland and it has caused a lot of damage in its wake at Karumba, Mornington Island and Sweers Island.
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Imogen is now sustaining winds near the centre of 55kph with wind gusts to 85kph and is 60 kilometres north northeast of Croydon and 140 kilometres east of Normanton and moving east southeast at 14kph.
The low is expected to continue moving east-southeastwards in the short term, taking it further inland today. Longer term, the system is expected to track more slowly to the southeast towards the North Tropical and Herbert-Lower Burdekin coasts.
The cleanup has started in the North West with Lyn Battle at Sweers Island Resort said it was wild and woolly conditions with 162mm overnight on Saturday, then another 205mm during Sunday and was still raining Sunday night.
"For a Cat 1 cyclone it really packed a punch," Ms Battle said.
"Our anemometer stopped working so we were estimating winds at 50 knots gusting to 70 knots. No structural damage but lots of tree branches down and will be beach erosion for sure. We always have all our boats out of the water this time of year, and the guest accommodation is packed away securely."
In Karumba there was substantial damage to buildings. Barra Centre staff who lived nearby reported a harrowing night that literally shook the foundations of their home.
There is some internal damage to the Centre with a gaping hole appearing Monday but Council said it was mainly water related and the brood stock and hatchlings are still swimming happily.
Mornington Island got 129.4mm yesterday while Normanton copped 262mm of rain and all major roads in and out of the Carpentaria Shire are closed.
Sadly Mount Isa is missing out as the system tracks eastward. Tuesday's forecast is mostly sunny with 20% chance of rain and max temps of 40 degrees.
Lake Moondarra is 72.95% full while Lake Julius is 100% full.
READ ALSO: Rail line closed until Tuesday due to derailment.
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Derek Barry
Editor of the North West Star Mount Isa since January 2016. Prior to that, an editor at several regional southern Queensland newspapers. Passionate about telling local stories. Comes with a strange accent to due an Irish accident of birth.
Editor of the North West Star Mount Isa since January 2016. Prior to that, an editor at several regional southern Queensland newspapers. Passionate about telling local stories. Comes with a strange accent to due an Irish accident of birth.
