Massive cyclone brewing off Australia’s coast gains momentum as it is set to dowse the east coast

Cyclone brewing off the coast of Australia is gaining momentum and set to drench parts of the country with torrential rain and dangerous ‘storm surges’

  •  A cyclone brewing off the coast of QLD and NT is expected to hit Australia
  •  Prior to reaching land, it is expected to become a category two tropical cyclone
  •  It is forecast to reach the Northern Territory on late Sunday or early Monday
  • It will send heavy rain fall and destructive winds into parts of the NT and QLD 

A cyclone brewing off Australia’s north coast is expected to cause extreme weather when it hits the shore in coming days.

Residents of Mornington Island in the Gulf of Carpentaria are on alert for a tropical cyclone that could form later on Saturday.

The Bureau of Meteorology says the weather system – which will be named Esther if it forms – could bring destructive winds and up to 200mm of rainfall.

Senior Meteorologist Gabriel Branescu said on Friday that a cyclone watch was in place for the northeast of the Northern Territory to Normanton – 500km east of the Queensland-Northern Territory border.

A cyclone is expected to reach Australia’s northern shore in coming days, bringing heavy rain fall and destructive winds to the region

It is likely to see damaging winds, even possibly destructive winds during late Sunday and Monday,’ he said.

‘We will see a storm surge over Mornington Island and the southern parts of the Gulf of Carpentaria.’

If the cyclone reaches the mainland, it is forecast to make landfall in the Northern Territory, northwest of Wollogorang, between Centre Island and the Queensland border. 

The Bureau of Meterology said, at this stage, the system is expected to intensify into a category two tropical cyclone prior to making landfall. 

It is expected to cross around 11am on Sunday as a category two tropical cyclone before weakening to a category one by Monday evening. 

A Bureau of Meterology spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia that there will be heavy rainfall, damaging destructive winds and storm surges along the coast line.

‘Storm surge, the mass of water that is pushed on shore is typically one of the major impacts or dangers of tropical cyclones,’ he said.

‘It is what has killed the most people globally. In this part of the world that can be particularly dangerous. 

The Bureau of Meteorology said the system is moving slow and is expected to intensify into a category two tropical cyclone before it reaches land

The Bureau of Meteorology said the system is moving slow and is expected to intensify into a category two tropical cyclone before it reaches land

‘If the crossing [of the cyclone] coincides with a high tide it can be particularly dangerous, which can be a problem in this part of the world.

‘It is fairly sparsely populated there so thankfully there is not as big a risk to infrastructure.’ 

The Bureau of Meteorlogy has warned that gales could potentially develop about coastal and nearby adjacent inland communities between Nhulunbuy and Karumba, including Mornington Island, Borroloola Wollogorang and Groote Eylandt during Sunday or early Monday. 

Destructive winds with gusts exceeding 125km/h are possible between about Borroloola and Mornington Island, including Centre Island on Monday. 

Rainfall is forecast for across the northern parts of the Territory and Queensland, with potential flash flooding expected in areas around the Gulf of Carpentaria. 

Abnormally high tides are expected to develop around the Gulf of Carpentaria (Pictured is Karumba, located on the Gulf) with the potential of flash flooding to occur after heavy rain fall

Abnormally high tides are expected to develop around the Gulf of Carpentaria (Pictured is Karumba, located on the Gulf) with the potential of flash flooding to occur after heavy rain fall

There is also rainfall forecast for drought-stricken areas of southern Queensland. 

The weather system is predicted to weaken on Tuesday as it moves west towards the central Northern Territory. 

Flood Watches are currently in place for Gulf of Carpentaria catchments. 

A separate weather system is forecast to bring rain to towns in the southern interior of the state including Charleville, Longreach, Bollon and Roma.

The heaviest of the rain is forecast to fall on Saturday and Sunday, with intense rainfall to be watched for potential flash flooding according to Mr Branescu.

Rainfall is also forecast to drench parts of northern NSW over the weekend. 

FIVE DAY WEATHER FORECAST

SYDNEY    

SUNDAY: Min 20. Max 26. Possible shower.

MONDAY: Min 18. Max 27.  Partly cloudy.

TUESDAY: Min 19. Max 28. Sunny.

 WEDNESDAY: Min 21. Max 32. Possible shower or storm.

THURSDAY: Min 29. Max 25. Possible shower.

BRISBANE:       

SUNDAY: Min 22. Max 27 Shower or two.

MONDAY: Min 21. Max 27. Showers.

TUESDAY: Min 21. Max 29. Shower or two.

 WEDNESDAY: Min 22. Max 31. Shower or two.

THURSDAY: Min 23. Max 30. Shower or two. Possible storm.

ADELAIDE:       

SUNDAY: Min 16. Max 32. Sunny.

MONDAY: Min 19. Max 30. Partly cloudy.

TUESDAY: Min 18. Max 29. Mostly sunny. 

 WEDNESDAY: Min 16. Max 23. Cloudy.

THURSDAY: Min 12. Max 23. Mostly sunny.

PERTH:       

SUNDAY: Min 21. Max 33. Possible shower or storm.

MONDAY: Min 22. Max 35. Shower or two. Possible storm.

TUESDAY: Min 22. Max 35. Partly cloudy.

 WEDNESDAY: Min 22. Max 34. Partly cloudy. 

THURSDAY: Min 23. Max 35. Partly cloudy.

 

MELBOURNE:        

SUNDAY: Min 13. Max 31. Mostly sunny.

MONDAY: Min 16. Max 26. Possible afternoon shower. 

TUESDAY: Min 17. Max 28. Shower or two.

 WEDNESDAY: Min 14. Max 19. Shower or two clearing.

THURSDAY: Min 12. Max 21. Mostly sunny.

 CANBERRA:       

SUNDAY: Min 14. Max 29. Partly cloudy.

MONDAY: Min 13. Max 31. Mostly sunny.

TUESDAY: Min 15. Max 31. Partly cloudy.

 WEDNESDAY: Min 17. Max 30. Possible shower or storm.

THURSDAY: Min 12. Max 29. Partly cloudy

 DARWIN:      

SUNDAY: Min 28. Max 33. Possible shower or storm.

MONDAY: Min 29. Max 33. Possible shower or storm.

TUESDAY: Min 28. Max 34. Shower or two. Possible storm.

 WEDNESDAY: Min 29. Max 33. Showers. Possible storm.

THURSDAY: Min 27. Max 32. Showers. Possible storm.

 

HOBART:      

SUNDAY: Min 12. Max 25. Mostly sunny.

MONDAY: Min 14. Max 23. Partly cloudy.

TUESDAY: Min 13. Max 27. Mostly sunny.

 WEDNESDAY: Min 12. Max 18. Morning shower or two.

THURSDAY: Min 11. Max 19. Cloudy.

Source: Bureau of Meteorology

  

 

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