Blustery weather blows away chance of rain for Townsville

Townsville will be spared the brunt of a tropical low which is expected to form into a cyclone tonight shortly after the Cowboys versus Broncos game finishes.

North Ward resident Belinda Johnston with her dog Mickey, a kelpie-cross enjoying a walk along The Strand.

Townsville will be spared the brunt of a tropical low which is expected to form into a cyclone tonight (FRI) as the Cowboys versus Broncos game finishes.

The Bureau of Meteorology’s Rosa Hoff said Tropical Cyclone Gretel was expected to form about 10pm over the Coral Sea.

“At the moment the tropical low is tracking southeast and is not having a direct impact on the Queensland coast,” she said.

Ms Hoff said the low and eventual cyclone was expected to continue moving away from the coast but warned there would likely be strong winds for North Queensland.

A gale force warning has been issued for Townsville, with south to south-easterly winds expected to peak at 35 knots. Winds west of Cape Bowling Green are expected to decrease to 15 to 20 knots in the late afternoon.

Further to the south, the developing low along with a strong ridge along the southern Queensland coast is likely to produce damaging wind gusts about exposed parts of the central coast.

“Areas such as Townsville, which is a bit more parallel to those winds, hasn’t seen these effects and has seen less rainfall as a result,” Ms Hoff said.

A flood watch has been issued from Ingham to Far North Queensland, although do drastic increase in floodwaters is expected.

Sunny conditions are expected for Townsville at the weekend, with little chance of rain.

Originally published as Blustery weather blows away chance of rain for Townsville