Cairns weather: Coral Sea cyclone unlikely to affect Far North coast

The Bureau of Meteorology has explained how the Far North coast will be affected by a tropical low which is “a good chance of becoming a cyclone” this week.

A DEVELOPING tropical low north west of Vanuatu is expected to move towards the Australian east coast as it forms into a cyclone, but its effect on Queensland are forecast to be minimal.

Bureau of Meteorology forecaster Livio Regano said the tropical low was a good chance of developing into a cyclone as early as Wednesday or possibly Thursday, however it would remain in Fijian waters and “well away from the Queensland coast”.

“It’s only effect on Queensland will be the size of the waves arriving on our beaches, but up (in the Far North), you won’t even notice that because you have protection from the reefs,” Mr Regano said.

Traveller Svetlana Brecht from Karaganda in Kazakhstan wets a line on an idyllic day at Ellis Beach. Picture: Brian Cassey

“I don’t think we’ll be naming it, I don’t even think it will appear on our charts.”

Mr Regano said the Far North’s outlook for the week would not be affected by the tropical low.

“It’ll be mostly clear with a 20 per cent chance of showers this week, most likely towards the end of the week.

“The cloud coverage later in the week might drop daytime temperatures a tick, but overnight temperatures will remain slightly above average,” he said.

Maximum temperatures of 32C are forecast for Cairns for the rest of the week, with 23C minimums.

Originally published as Cairns weather: Coral Sea cyclone unlikely to affect Far North coast