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Queenslanders warned of fresh blast from Tropical Cyclone Iris Queenslanders warned of fresh blast from Tropical Cyclone Iris
(about 4 hours later)
Tropical Cyclone Iris may reform off the Queensland coast and dump more torrential rain on sodden communities in the state’s north. Cyclone Iris has reformed off the Queensland northern coast and already sodden communities are bracing for further downpours and damaging winds.
The Bureau of Meteorology said heavy rain and winds gusting above 100km/h could affect coastal communities between Innisfail, just south of Cairns, and Proserpine, from Monday evening. Iris regained cyclone strength on Monday morning and around midday was a category one storm, 310km east of Cairns and 330km north-east of Townsville.
It said Iris had a high chance or reforming into a cyclone on Tuesday and, while it was not expected to cross the coast, communities in the warning zone were being told to prepare for wild weather. The Bureau of Meteorology said it could strengthen further and while it would come closer to the coast, it was not expected to make landfall.
“She has shown some pretty significant signs of development in the last 24 hours,” senior forecaster Diana Eadie told ABC radio. Communities between Rollingstone, just north of Townsville, and Sarina, just south of Mackay were warned to brace for potentially flooding rains and damaging winds.
“We have increased the tropical cyclone likelihood from low to moderate for today, and to high on Tuesday.” “Iris is expected to continue moving south-west for most of the day today, before becoming slow moving tonight. On Tuesday the system is expected to turn east and move away from the Queensland coast,” the bureau said on Monday.
Coastal communities that have been drenched by wild weather over the past month, including the deluge brought by ex-cyclone Nora, are on alert for more of the same. Affected communities could start to feel winds gusting beyond 100km/h from Monday evening and into Tuesday. And very heavy rain could start falling from Monday evening.
“Even if it doesn’t reach tropical cyclone strength, what we are seeing is an increase in rainfall and the potential for damaging winds ... between about Innisfail and Proserpine really starting to pick up from this evening.” The bureau said as much as 200mm of rain could fall in 24 hours in catchments that were already saturated from rain Iris delivered on its first sweep along the Queensland coast, and then from Cyclone Nora.
Communities in the warning zone have been told they could get 200-300mm of rain over the next 24 hours. Locations which may be affected include Proserpine, Bowen, Townsville, Hamilton Island, Ingham and Innisfail. A flood watch remained current for coastal catchments between Rollingstone and Sarina.
A flood watch remains current for coastal catchments between Cairns and Rockhampton. Rescue and flood-response teams have already been sent to areas likely to be affected.
Ex-Tropical Cyclone Nora dumped over a metre of rain on the north and far north of the state over the past week, causing widespread flooding.Ex-Tropical Cyclone Nora dumped over a metre of rain on the north and far north of the state over the past week, causing widespread flooding.
The emergency services minister, Craig Crawford, said it is important to be prepared given how saturated the ground is: “With more heavy rain and strong winds around the corner, I know we will once again see QFES personnel right across Queensland step up to the job.” The emergency services minister, Craig Crawford, said it was important to be prepared given how saturated the ground was: “With more heavy rain and strong winds around the corner, I know we will once again see QFES personnel right across Queensland step up to the job.”
The Queensland premier, Annastacia Palaszczuk, said the cyclone was not expected to affect the Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast.
“Down on the Gold Coast we do expect the Games to continue as normal,” she said.
Palaszczuk urged people heading back from the Easter break to exercise extreme caution on the road.
Extra swift-water rescue crews and flood boat operators have been sent into all major population centres expected to feel the effects of the cyclone.
QueenslandQueensland
Australia weatherAustralia weather
CairnsCairns
Natural disasters and extreme weather
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