Mellissa Mackellar, 06 Mar 2013, 6:23 AM UTC
Cyclone poses no immediate threat to QLD coast
A tropical cyclone is expected to form over the Coral Sea during the
next day or two but poses no immediate threat to coastal towns.
A developing low pressure system in the monsoon trough dumped heavy
rain on the Central Coast on Tuesday and Tuesday night, with
widespread falls of 50 and 150mm between Mackay and Bowen in the 24
hours to 9am on Wednesday. The heaviest falls were just inland, with
169mm at Mt William and 151mm at Stafford Crossing.
The rain generally wasn't as heavy as during the previous 24 hours,
when Mt William recorded a whopping 300mm. The past three days have
amounted to nearly 600mm for the hinterland location.
The low was situated about 620km northeast of Mackay on Wednesday
afternoon and intensifying, with a high risk of cyclone development by
late Thursday or Friday. Residents can breathe a sigh of relief for
the time being, however, as the system is forecast to track to the
east-northeast, drawing moisture away from the coast. The low is then
expected to remain well offshore until at least the weekend.
While the system poses no immediate threat, Queensland is not in the
clear yet with indications that the system may take a westward track
towards the coast early next week.
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