Iris taunts communities along Queensland coast

COASTAL residents are preparing for worsening weather as Tropical Cyclone Iris swarms off Queensland, with forecasters warning the unpredictable system could intensify.

Bureau of Meteorology forecasters say the erratic system, which re-formed into a cyclone over the weekend, could escalate into a category three storm by today.

Late yesterday afternoon Iris was 365km north of Mackay and continuing to move south along the Queensland coast.

Queensland Deputy Police Commissioner Bob Gee said yesterday was the day for Whitsunday residents to decide if they were going to stay or leave. “But that is a voluntary decision,” he said.

“It is a very unclear picture in terms of where the cyclone is going to move.”

Mr Gee said enough emergency personnel would be available if the event reached disaster level, despite more being allocated to the Gold Coast for the Commonwealth Games.

Parts of Queensland hit by Tropical Cyclone Debbie just a year ago are among those in the firing line of Iris as it moves down the coast. People between Bowen and St Lawrence, including Mackay, have also been told to get ready for gale force winds by securing boats and property ahead of an expected weakening tomorrow.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk was updated on the situation as she chaired a meeting of the Queensland Disaster Management Committee on the Gold Coast yesterday.

“No matter what community gets impacted we are all here to help,” she said.

State Emergency Services Minister Craig Crawford said conditions were expected to be less severe than Tropical Cyclone Debbie.