Cyclone to track away

Tropical low located 500km east of Cairns

A TROPICAL low which delivered a deluge and cut off several remote communities in Far North Queensland earlier this week has moved 500km off the coast and caused the Bureau of Meteorology to issue a tropical cyclone outlook for the Coral Sea.

The tropical cyclone outlook issued by the Bureau on

Thursday stated a tropical low was located about 500 km east of Cairns.

It is expected to move southeast and further away from the Queensland coast.

“It is expected to strengthen into a tropical cyclone early on Saturday morning, shortly before moving out of the region,” the Bureau said.

“The system will not have any direct impacts on the Queensland coast or islands.”

The Coral Sea cyclone outlook states a high chance of a tropical cyclone developing in the eastern region on Saturday dropping to a very low chance on Sunday.

“The monsoon trough is forming over the Gulf of Carpentaria and expected to extend into the Arafura Sea over the weekend,” the Bureau said.

“A weak tropical low may form within the trough in the

Arafura Sea early next week.

“The tropical low is expected to remain weak as it then moves west.”

For Cairns the Bureau’s community information officer Danny Johnson said Friday and Saturday offer the best chance to get your laundry done with our using the dryer.

“We are in the first of two settled days today,” he said.

“It’s partly cloudy with strong southeast wind so you should get your washing dry.”

Mr Johnson said people should not be complacent.

“There’s still a chance of flash flooding is always an issue after a lot of rain,” he said.

“From Monday Cairns will potentially get 15mm of rain.”