Happy New Year, and Happy Birthday to Penny!
TOP PRIORITY FOR IMMEDIATE BROADCAST
TROPICAL CYCLONE ADVICE NUMBER 12
Issued at 7:41 am EST on Tuesday 1 January 2019
Headline:
Tropical cyclone Penny has formed in the eastern Gulf of Carpentaria. Expected to cross the coast near Weipa this afternoon.
Areas Affected:
Warning Zone
Pormpuraaw to Cape York, including adjacent inland areas.
Watch Zone
None.
Cancelled Zone
None.
Details of Tropical Cyclone Penny at 7:00 am AEST [6:30 am ACST]:
Intensity: Category 1, sustained winds near the centre of 75 kilometres per hour with wind gusts to 100 kilometres per hour.
Location: within 35 kilometres of 12.7 degrees South 140.9 degrees East, estimated to be 110 kilometres west of Weipa and 115 kilometres northwest of Aurukun.
Movement: east southeast at 8 kilometres per hour.
Tropical cyclone Penny has formed in the eastern Gulf of Carpentaria. Penny is expected to move east towards Cape York Peninsula and cross the coast near Weipa this afternoon as a category 1 system. The cyclone may reach category 2 if it moves slower than expected and spends more time over water.
Hazards:
GALES, with peak gusts in excess of 90km/h, are occurring on the western Cape York Peninsula coast between Mapoon and Aurukun, and may extend to remaining areas between Cape York and Pormpuraaw later today. Isolated damaging wind gusts may occur otherwise with monsoonal thunderstorms over the Torres Strait Islands, and a separate Severe Weather Warning is current for these conditions.
HEAVY RAINFALL, which may lead to flash flooding, is likely across Cape York Peninsula and parts of the North Tropical Coast today and Wednesday.
A Flood Watch remains current for coastal catchments north of Cardwell, including catchments across the Cape York Peninsula. A separate Severe Weather Warning is also current for rainfall on the northeast tropical coast.
TIDES will be higher than normal through Torres Strait and along the northwest Cape York Peninsula over the next couple of days.
As the cyclone approaches the coast, a storm tide is expected between Cape York and Cape Keerweer. Large waves may produce minor flooding along the foreshore. People living in areas likely to be affected by this flooding should take measures to protect their property as much as possible and be prepared to help their neighbours.
Recommended Action:
People between Cape York and Pormpuraaw should take precautions and listen to the next advice at 11am AEST.
- Information is available from your local government
- For cyclone preparedness and safety advice, visit Queensland's Disaster Management Services website (
www.disaster.qld.gov.au)
- For emergency assistance call the Queensland State Emergency Service (SES) on 132 500 (for assistance with storm damage, rising flood water, fallen trees on buildings or roof damage).
Next Advice:
The next advice will be issued by 11:00 am AEST Tuesday 01 January [10:30 am ACST Tuesday 01 January].