Residents part of nervous waiting game as Cyclone Kimi moves erraticly along the coast

Cyclone Kimi was playing a game of cat and mouse with thousands of North Queenslanders, as the category 2 system sat off the coast between Townsville and Hinchinbrook Island overnigh

CYCLONE Kimi was playing a game of cat and mouse with thousands of North Queenslanders, as the category 2 system sat off the coast between Townsville and Hinchinbrook Island overnight.

Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) maps forecast Cyclone Kimi would continue on a south-eastward track overnight and become slow moving today.

The bureau’s latest advice as of print last night was that a coastal crossing between Hinchinbrook Island and Townsville early this morning would be unlikely.

The system was estimated to be 150km north-northeast of Townsville, moving parallel along the coast at 16km/h with sustained winds of 95km/h near the centre and wind gusts up to 130km/h.

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Forecasters predicted Cyclone Kimi was expected to weaken below category 2 overnight, and further weakening was likely as it stalls off the coast today.

The system is then expected to shift back towards the north as a weak tropical low.

The cyclone moved erratically yesterday after the first warnings saw Port Douglas and Cairns in the firing line of the then-category 1 system on Sunday.

Its path quickly changed course and was expected to head straight for Innisfail yesterday morning, which was lashed by more than 100mm of rain between Sunday and Monday.

Within a few hours, the path had changed twice and it started heading towards Townsville about 2.30pm.

Cyclone Kimi at 6.50pm on Monday

It strengthened to a category 2 system, threatening destructive winds up to 150km/h, heavy rainfall and abnormally high tides and large waves. The possibility of Cyclone Kimi crossing the coast became unlikely, according to the latest advice from the bureau before print.

“The system’s movement has been erratic, however, due to its recent movement towards the south-southeast, a coastal crossing between Hinchinbrook Island and Townsville tonight or early tomorrow is now unlikely,” BOM said.

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk (pictured) said the state was well prepared with emergency services on full alert and ready to help but urged residents to “take care”.

“North Queenslanders know what to do — listen to emergency warnings and, above all, stay off flooded roads,” Ms Palaszczuk said.

“The bureau is warning of strong winds and very heavy rain.”

Residents started preparing for the worst yesterday, with many stripping shelves bare at Hermit Park Woolworths.

Sandbagging sites were also set up by Townsville City Council, with crews working to replenish sand throughout the day.

Members of the public flocked to the sites yesterday, with the council reminding them to bring their own shovels to fill sandbags at the five locations. Sandbags are available in town at 113 Dalrymple Service Road, Garbutt and the corner of Brodie and Boundary streets behind Officeworks at Hermit Park.

Out of town, sandbags are available at 14 Forestry Road in Bluewater, corner of Mt Low Parkway and Bruce Highway and at 43 Allambie Lane, Rasmussen.

Townsville is expected to be drenched with up to 120mm of rain and wind gusts of more than 90km/h.

Ayr is expected to record 70mm, Ingham 60mm and Cardwell 30mm.

Originally published as Residents part of nervous waiting game as Cyclone Kimi moves erraticly along the coast