Prospect of cyclone lifted to ‘ moderate’
THE chances of a cyclone crossing the North Queensland coast have increased to “moderate” with the Bureau of Meteorology predicting it could make landfall on Monday.
There is now between a 20 and 50 per cent prospect of a cyclone developing in the Coral Sea.
Meteorologist Andrew Cearn said the outlook was expected to remain moderate into Sunday and Monday.
“A couple of weather computer models are coming on board now,” he said.
“But there’s no firm agreement between them all.”
Mr Cearn said the chances would increase towards the weekend.
“You can’t tell where it’s going to cross, but it’s going to move west and will cross Monday or Tuesday,” he said.
“Much like we’ve seen in the last few days, there will be some afternoon showers throughout the rest of the week, but they will be patchy and widespread.
“Our best chance is if it ( cyclone) comes into the coast, we may see some good rain early next week.”
Disaster management support officer Acting Senior Sergeant Brenton Webb said police closely tracked the development of any lows.
“If it’s a Category 5 we’re looking at some fairly serious actions in terms of making arrangements ... in terms of where it’s going to form and what environmental impacts it’s going to have,” he said.
Sen- Sgt Webb said resi- dents should start preparing for the possibility of a cyclone.
“It would be a very prudent time for people to start because we haven’t had a significant weather event for some time,” he said. “Residents should clean their yards of debris, prepare their homes and check their cyclone kits.
“If they are a care organisation, a care giver or a care provider, then they should be making sure that there are significant weather event arrangements in place.”
Sen- Sgt Webb said as the North had not experienced a significant rain event in some time it was crucial to remember that flooding may take place.
“While it’s an exciting prospect that we may get rain, we need to remember — if it’s flooded forget it,” he said.
Garbutt IGA has already started preparing for the event, stocking its shelves with extra tinned food, batteries and water bottles.
“There’s no panic just yet, but we are getting prepared for it,” a female employee said. “We’re getting lots of water, tinned food, long life milk, batteries. People should get prepared.”