Intensifying Owen teases forecasters
FORECASTERS are being kept guessing by the first cyclone of the season as it remained about 1000km off Cairns.
Cyclone Owen was expected to intensify to category 2 strength by this morning but the slow moving system was not forecast to threaten the Queensland coast.
Bureau of Meteorology forecaster Adam Blazak said conditions were favourable for Owen to be downgraded to a tropical low, but the exact path beyond that was uncertain. has suffered from lack of rainfall.
Wildlife photographer Rod Payne said he had never seen the area as dry as it was now.
“I go to Centenary Lakes a lot and this is the worst I’ve ever seen it,” he said.
“At this stage we have it tracking toward the north tropical coast, but there’s a lot of uncertainty caused by steering winds,” Mr Blazak said.
“By the end it could up anywhere between Cooktown and Rockhampton, assuming it crosses the coast at all.”
An upper level trough moving up the coast is expected to drop cooling showers on the Far North later in the week.
Mr Blazak said temperatures were expected to return to more typical levels for the Far North by Thursday.
“We are expecting showers and thunderstorms, but the winds aren’t strong so they
“It’s such a pretty place normally, but now it’s got a bad smell hanging around it.”
Mr Payne said the wildlife was suffering after a long and hot dry spell.
“The birds are high in concentration for this time of year may only stay in the one spot,” he said.
“If you’re lucky enough to be in that spot, you can expect good rain, but it will be hit and miss, so we’re hoping it hits some fires.”
Queensland Ambulance Service Cairns and Hinterlands executive manager of operations Rita Kelly said last week was a record for the service as the heatwave blazed throughout the region.
“I’d say the heatwave added an average of 10 extra cases a day to our workload,” she said.
“Those were cases directly attributable to heat stress, but it’s also likely a number of additional because they’re water birds, so they have to go to the last bit of water left.
“But with a lack of water there’s a lack of food.
“I was taking pictures around there a year ago and the change between now and cases such as those with medical conditions were exacerbated by the heat.
“Many of the heat call-outs were a code 1, meaning lights and sirens because often people didn’t pick up on it until too late and needed to be taken to hospital.”
QAS recorded 3000 callouts statewide on Sunday, 400 more than the same day last year. Ms Kelly said residents should not get complacent as the heatwave eases off.
“The amount of days we’ve had this heat means it doesn’t take much to get overwhelmed, so take as many precautions as you can,” she said. then sad.”
Mr Payne said birds at his home in Tolga were also desperate for water, visiting his property when he watered his garden, with many Tableland waterways drying up. is very obvious. It’s so TABLELANDS Regional Council has issued a boil water notice for properties connected to the Ravenshoe and Herberton water supply schemes. This advice has been issued due to weather conditions and loss of power. Residents at these properties must boil drinking water until further notice. If you are concerned that you may have been affected by contaminated water, contact your doctor and advise them. For further information you can contact the Tablelands council at info@trc.qld.gov.au or by phoning 1300 362 242.