CYCLONE TEASES
THE Far North has dodged another potentially disastrous weather event as Cyclone Iris performs another about turn heading away from the Queensland coast today.
Earlier yesterday, forecasters were predicting Innisfail would cop damaging wind gusts of more than 100km/h and rainfall of up to 200mm but severe weather warnings are now in place for communities between Townsville and Sarina.
Bureau of Meterology forecaster Adam Blazak said Cairns would be spared the heavy rainfall, but some precipitation was expected in coastal areas.
“There should be increased shower activity but to the south of the system tends to be where the heaviest rain will be,” he said.
“Temperatures will stay in the low 30s during the day and mid to low 20s at night. We might be getting dry air moving over the area, but it is not going to be overly humid over the tropics.”
SES Far Northern regional manager Wayne Coutts said crews were relieved the cyclone was moving away from the coast.
“It is less of a threat for the Far North region now but we’ve still got a team in Innisfail and we are handing out lots of sandbags,” he said.
“There’s been so much happening up here lately, we don’t mind at all it’s moved offshore. We hope it stays out at sea and doesn’t impact anyone else.”
Mr Coutts said the Cassowary Coast Regional Council had been particularly proactive ahead of Iris’s redevelopment.
“The places it has flooded recently, they’re well stocked with sandbags. It is really good to see communities being proactive, that helps us out a lot,” he said.
Towns further south expected to be most impacted by the cyclone have been assured emergency crews have been assembled despite more than 800 firefighters and members of the SES from across Queensland deployed to the Gold Coast ahead of the start of the Commonwealth Games this week.
“The Queensland community can be assured that QFES is well-resourced and prepared to respond to this weather event while maintaining its full resourcing commitment to the Commonwealth Games,” Emergency Services Minister Craig Crawford said.
“QFES planned for various scenarios well ahead of the Games to ensure it could appropriately respond to a range of severe weather events while maintaining its enhanced resourcing commitment on the Gold Coast.” QFES Commissioner Katarina Carroll said catchments in the north were already full and holiday-makers and residents in the region should heed safety advice.