Queensland weather: Tropical low off state’s north a chance of developing into a cyclone

A tropical low could develop off the Queensland coast later this week with a chance of developing into a cyclone by the weekend. But it won’t follow naming conventions.

A tropical low could form off the Queensland coast later this week.

A tropical low could turn into a cyclone off the Queensland coast and if it forms it won’t be called Anthony.

According to the Bureau of Meteorology, a tropical low is forecast to develop in the northern Coral Sea later in the week.

The tropical low will most likely move slowly east initially, away from the Queensland coast.

There is a low risk that the tropical low will develop into a tropical cyclone from Friday.

Bureau of Meteorlogy senior meteorologist Miriam Bradbury said the weather system would start developing from Thursday.

A tropical low is forecast to develop in the northern Coral Sea later in the week. Picture: Bureau of Meteorology

“It has only a very low risk of being a tropical cyclone at that point that increases to a low risk of being a tropical cyclone as we go into late Friday, Saturday,” Ms Bradley said.

“It maintains only a low risk of being a tropical cyclone right through the weekend and into Monday.

“At this stage, there is only a low chance of it being a cyclone, and I would say a very low chance of it having an impact for the Queensland coast.”

A separate tropical low off the Western Australian coast has a moderate chance of developing into a tropical cyclone.

If either of these tropical lows turn into a cyclone, the next cyclone that forms in Australian waters won’t be called Anthony due to it being the first name of the Prime Minister.

“When a name matches a prominent person of the time, we reorder to the next name starting with that same letter to avoid any confusion,” a Bureau spokesperson said.

The Bureau of Meteorology selects names for cyclones from a pre-determined list of names in alphabetical order, switching between male and female names.

There is a low chance of a tropical low off Queensland developing into a cycline. Picture: Windy

Following Tropical Cyclone Zelia, the next name on the list was meant to be Anthony, however the weather bureau removed Anthony from the list, with the next cyclone to be named Alfred.

“Anthony has been removed from the cyclone list, the next name is now going to be Alfred, for the next cyclone that may develop in the Australian region,” Ms Bradbury said.

Showers and storms are expected to continue across North Queensland this week, with a major flood warning still in place for the Lower Flinders River, as well as moderate flood warnings for the Thomson River, and Connors-Isaac Rivers.