A slow-moving tropical low off the western Cape York Peninsula coast is expected to form a cyclone on Thursday.
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There is a Warning Zone from Mornington Island, and Karumba to Aurukun, including Kowanyama and Pormpuraaw, and nearby inland areas.
A tropical low sustaining winds near the centre of 45 kilometres per hour with wind gusts to 85kph is estimated to be 75 km north northwest of Kowanyama and 310 km northeast of Mornington Island and moving east northeast at 8 kph.
The tropical low is expected to remain slow-moving off the western Cape York Peninsula coast and develop into tropical cyclone Lucas on Thursday. The system should remain slow-moving in the southeastern region of the Gulf of Carpentaria for a few days, after which it may cross the western Cape York Peninsula coast.
Heavy rainfall is forecast about western parts of Cape York Peninsula for the next several days with the potential for 150 to 200 millimetres aday for multiple days. The most likely areas to see these rainfall totals will be coastal parts between Weipa and Gilbert River Mouth.
Abnormally high tides are expected between the Torres Strait Islands and the Gilbert River Mouth during the next several days due to persistent monsoonal westerly flow and the developing tropical low.
Gales with gusts to 110 kph may develop about Mornington Island, and communities between Aurukun to Karumba, and nearby inland areas, on Thursday morning.
Destructive winds with gusts to 150kph may develop from Thursday night if the system continues to intensify.
People on Mornington Island, and between Aurukun and Karumba, and nearby inland areas should immediately commence or continue preparations, especially securing boats and property.
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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.
