Cyclone threat in North Queensland from very low to moderate

Thursday, January 25, 2018

The Bureau of Meteorology issued a new warning with the likelihood of a cyclone forming in the Coral Sea has increased.

Madden-Julian Oscillation and equatorial wind combined with a developing monsoon in the Coral Sea has increased the chance of a cyclone.

For Thursday and Friday the bureau’s tropical cyclone outlook for the Coral sea is low but will be raised to moderate on Saturday.

It is likely that the chances of cyclone formation were 20 to 50 per chance on that day, a weak trough might extend across the northwest Coral Sea the forecasts revealed.

Monsoon develops through the Coral Sea from Friday through the weekend and the trough is expected to deepen and turn more active.

It was reported that far North Queensland received another drenching overnight and a low may develop within the monsoon trough over the Coral Sea in the coming days, well offshore from the Queensland coast.

There was a moderate chance of cyclone development from Saturday as the monsoon strengthens.

The bureau mentioned that if a low or tropical cyclone did form, it would move east-southeast, away from the Queensland coast.

Adam Woods, a forecaster mentioned that the formation of cyclone meant increased oceanic swell on the coast of Townsville while some of the rainfall will be offshore.

« Back to Page