Tropical Low Develops Off North Queensland Coast as Rain Eases in Flooded Far West
A monsoon is expected to bring wetter conditions across North Queensland this week, but there is still great uncertainty about the movement of two developing tropical lows. Senior meteorologist Harry Clark said rain would shift north from the Whitsundays and Mackay region up the coast toward Townsville on Sunday, with isolated falls of between 50 and 100 millimeters possible in some areas.
"We often see with these sorts of systems the rainfall peak in the overnight hours," Mr. Clark said. "For the most part, the more widespread totals should be much less than that, more like 10 to 40mm."
A tropical low pressure system, expected to form in the Coral Sea by Tuesday, has a moderate chance of developing into a cyclone on Thursday or Friday. There is also potential for a separate low to form in the Gulf of Carpentaria. Mr. Clark said, "Uncertainty is very high as to where those lows go beyond that."
A weak trough across Cape York Peninsula is expected to develop into a monsoon trough from today, bringing persistent showers and thunderstorms. On the waters, there are warnings for strong winds on the Mackay and Capricornia coasts.
Reprieve for Western Queensland
Those living along sodden catchments across western Queensland are forecast to get some relief from rain, although flood warnings remain in place. A low-pressure system that has brought widespread heavy rain and flooding in recent days has moved south. Six people at an outback station in the Northern Territory near the Queensland border were rescued by the LifeFlight helicopter on Friday night after their property was surrounded by floodwaters.
In south-east Queensland, conditions are likely to be slightly wetter from Sunday, but rainfall is expected to remain relatively coastal with totals below 10mm.
