Tropical cyclone Paul forms in Coral Sea off Far North Queensland

A Tropical cyclone has formed in the Coral Sea, but weather experts have confirmed it has weakened overnight and it won’t impact Queensland.

Tropical cyclone Paul has formed in the Coral Sea and may reach Category 3 before it weakens.

A Tropical cyclone has formed in the Coral Sea, but weather experts have confirmed it has weakened overnight and it won’t impact Queensland.

Tropical cyclone Paul was announced as a category 2 system on Thursday, situated in the far northeast Coral Sea, off Cairns.

But by 4.45am Friday the Bureau of Meteorology had released an update confirming the system had weakened to a system 1.

“Tropical Cyclone Paul is slow moving in the far northeast Coral Sea. Paul is weakening as environmental conditions deteriorate. It will move to the northwest and dissipate on the weekend. It will not impact the Queensland coast,” the cyclone update read.

Meteorologist Pieter Claassen had said on Thursday that Tropical Cyclone Paul was expected to reach a category 3 system by Thursday night, but it would quickly deteriorate and change direction.

“There’s a lot of dry air around the system and the winds aren’t consistent with height,” he said.

“What we’re finding is that the easterly winds are stronger than the northerly winds blowing the system to the west, so it won’t be able to intensify.”

Coastal communities in Far North Queensland will likely experience rainfall remnants left behind by TC Paul from mid next week.

“We could see a pick up in rainfall anywhere from Cardwell north to Innisfail, Cairns and the Peninsula,” Mr Claassen said.

TC Paul is forecast to revert to a tropical low early Saturday.

Originally published as Tropical cyclone Paul forms in Coral Sea off Far North Queensland