Forecaster tipping big cyclone could hit

A LEADING amateur forecaster is predicting a significant cyclone will develop which could “heavily impact” Queensland and the Northern Territory.

In its latest prediction, Higgins Storm Chasing said “a majority of global models” were showing a cyclone could develop.

Higgins said yesterday a monsoon trough extended across the top of Australia through the Arafura Sea, Northern Gulf of Carpentaria and into the northern Coral Sea.

“A tropical low is located north of Thursday Island along the trough which is forecast to move west into the Arafura Sea during the next few days,” the forecast stated.

Bureau of Meteorology forecaster Julian de Morton said there was a low to the north of the Gulf of Carpentaria which showed signs of intensifying.

“It could potentially become a tropical cyclone by Friday and possibly even earlier,” he said.

“At the moment our current forecast is some point on Friday.

“It will probably cross somewhere between the Queensland and Northern Territory border on the weekend.”

He said pinpointing the location where it would cross was difficult.

He said towns on the east coast of Queensland, including Townsville and Cairns, would not likely be affected by the system.

Today between six and 20mm of rain is expected in Townsville.

Light showers are expected for the rest of this week.