Cyclone alert in North
Conditions ripe for deadly storm to brew
THE possibility of a tropical cyclone in the Far North in the next few months is looming as conditions for a significant weather event brew in the Coral Sea.
Bureau of Meteorology duty forecaster Annabelle Ford said a weather pattern indicator developing in the Coral Sea gave meteorologists an insight into the likelihood of a cyclone crossing Cairns.
She said the weather pattern indicator, called a Madden-Julian Oscillation, was a collection of clouds, rainfall, winds and pressure that moved in an easterly direction through the tropics and reemerged at its starting point every 30 to 60 days.
“There is a tropical wave Madden-Julian Oscillation, which is expected to enter the Coral Sea in late January or early February,” she said.
“Having a Madden-Julian Oscillation in the Coral Sea can increase the likelihood of a monsoon burst, which in turn will increase the likelihood of a tropical cyclone.
“It’s too early to really say when it will be, but at some point a cyclone can be expected.”
Ms Ford said the lead-up to a cyclone often involved heavy rain.
“There’s a weak La Nina at the moment, which brings a higher rainfall to the Cairns area,” she said.
“For the February to April period there’s a 60-65 per cent chance of above-average rainfall for the wet season.”
The region had a taste of wet and windy conditions earlier this week as storm water covered roads and knocked down trees Gordonvale to Kuranda.
Far Northern State Emergency Service regional director Wayne Coutts said the recent wet weather was a reminder for Cairns residents to prepare for cyclones.
He said everyone living in Cairns should have an emergency kit ready year-round for when unexpected extreme weather set in across the Far North.
“We’ve seen in recent days how quickly the weather can wind from change,” he said.
“An emergency kit should consist of food and water for at least three days, a flashlight, first aid kit, extra batteries and cell phone charges.
“All households should also have an emergency plan containing contacts for emergency services, electricity and other service providers, relatives, friends and neighbours.”
editorial@cairnspost.com.au facebook.com/TheCairnsPost www.cairnspost.com.au twitter.com/TheCairnsPost