Tropical cyclone moving towards Queensland coast

A tropical cyclone is brewing 1600km away from Australia’s east coast, intensifying as it makes its way towards Queensland.

A tropical cyclone is “likely” to form over the Coral Sea this week and may make its way to Queensland, according to meteorologists.

Satellite images show a swirling tropical low hovering over the Solomon Sea, 1000 nautical miles from Cairns, and moving towards Australia.

The low is “likely” to develop into a tropical cyclone on Tuesday, according to the Bureau of Meteorology.

Satellite images show the low, which is likely to become a cyclone, off Australia’s northeast coast. Picture: Weatherzone

The BOM said the system is moving west/southwest at a speed of 13km/h.

“The tropical low is likely to develop into a tropical cyclone during Tuesday as it tracks slowly to the southwest in the Solomon Sea,” the BOM said in a statement on Monday.

“It is expected to intensify further over following days as it moves on a general southward track into the central parts of the Coral Sea.

“During next week there is a chance that the system could move into the vicinity of the Queensland coast.”

It’s too early to say whether the cyclone will hit Queensland. Picture:

The BOM noted that there is a high degree of uncertainty in the forecast from Thursday, making it difficult to predict the system’s movements.

But the bureau said the system had a high chance of becoming a severe tropical cyclone — category 3 or higher — from Thursday as it moves over the Coral Sea, to Australia’s northeast.

While it is not expected to impact Australia’s mainland directly before Friday, there is a growing potential for it to track towards eastern Queensland from this weekend or early next week.

It is too soon to know whether the likely cyclone will remain offshore or move over Australia’s east coast.

A “spaghetti model” showing the various paths the cyclone may take if it forms. Picture: Cyclocane

Cairns is expected to be the Australian city most impacted.

Residents are encouraged to keep a close eye on forecasts and brace for impact if necessary.

If the cyclone forms in Australia’s area of responsibility, it will be named Jasper and be the first tropical cyclone of the season in Australian waters.

If it forms in Fiji’s area of responsibility, our island neighbour will name it.