Australia’s east coast is set to be battered with 100km/h winds as a tropical cyclone forms over the weekend.
The Bureau of Meteorology forecasts a tropical low off the Cairns coast will intensify into a category one tropical cyclone, but continue to move away from the mainland.
The brewing cyclone will bring severe winds to Queensland from Saturday and the gusty conditions are expected to linger over the weekend.
Queensland Fire and Emergency Services have warned residents to ‘prepare now’.
‘Move your car under cover or away from trees, secure outdoor items, seek shelter indoors and never under trees, and beware of fallen trees and powerlines,’ they said.
Australia’s east coast is set to be battered with 100km/h winds as a tropical cyclone forms over the weekend. Pictured: Wind forms on Australia’s east coast
Queensland Fire and Emergency Services have warned residents to ‘prepare now’
There is a gale wind warning for Great Barrier Reef Offshore and strong wind warnings for Townsville Coast, Mackay Coast, Capricornia Coast, Hervey Bay, Fraser Island Coast and Sunshine Coast Waters.
Weatherzone Meterologist Tom Hough said the impending cyclone is not expected to bring a huge amount of rainfall but the wind will be prominent.
‘Exposed coastal areas [of south-east Queensland] we could see wind speeds of 80km/h, maybe 85km/h. Up to 90 km/h offshore,’ he told Daily Mail Australia.
‘We will also see some stronger winds over north-eastern coastal areas, possibly stretching down to Newcastle, Sydney, Wollongong area.
‘As the system continues to move further and further away south-east, we could still see some gusty conditions in Queensland on Monday.
‘Could see the strong winds persisting for a day or two.’
Pictured: A woman battles windy conditions. Strong winds are forecast along parts of the east of Australia this weekend
The Bureau of Meteorology forecasts a tropical low off the Cairns coast will intensify into a category one tropical cyclone, but continue to move away from the mainland
The brewing cyclone will bring severe winds to Queensland from Saturday and the gusty conditions are expected to linger over the weekend. Pictured: Large waves break at Burleigh Heads
Bureau of Meteorology forecaster Andrea Peace said the looming cyclone is expected to become a category two system by Sunday.
‘The system is a high chance of forming into a tropical cyclone on Saturday and continue to intensify into a category two system early on Sunday,’ Ms Peace said.
She said computer modelling had it passing to the northeast of Norfolk Island.
‘Depending on the systems path there may be a period on Monday where storm force winds with gusts in excess of 120 km per hour are experienced at the Island.’
There is also a gale warning for New South Wales on Saturday with the Macquarie Coast, Hunter Coast, Sydney Coast, Illawarra Coast and Batemans Coast all in the firing line.
There is also a gale warning for New South Wales on Saturday with the Macquarie Coast, Hunter Coast, Sydney Coast, Illawarra Coast and Batemans Coast all in the firing line. Pictured: Sydney’s Bondi Beach
Bureau of Meteorology forecaster Andrea Peace said the looming cyclone is expected to become a category two system by Sunday
Mr Hough said the showers in Sydney would persist throughout Saturday.
‘We could see potentially stronger showers this afternoon, clearing in the late evening but we could still see some light showers through Sunday,’ he said.
Saturday is also the coolest day Sydney has seen in four months.
‘It’s a fair bit cooler today than average and with the wind it feels cooler,’ Mr Hough said.
The average for this tome of year is 25C. Sydney recorded 20.3C on November 3 and 18.3C on October 11.
A map shared by the Bureau of Meteorology shows rain in New South Wales over the past week
Saturday is also the coolest day Sydney has seen in four months. ‘It’s a fair bit cooler today than average and with the wind it feels cooler,’ Mr Hough said. Pictured: Large swell at Bronte Beach
Melbourne will reach a high of 18C on Saturday and there is a 30 per cent chance of a shower.
‘Cooler conditions have now spread throughout the metro area,’ the Bureau said on Friday.
‘The change arrived in the city at 3:39pm and the temperature fell 6C in eight minutes – and has continued falling since.
‘Warmer again Tuesday and Wednesday next week.’