Tropical Cyclone threat looms over Coral Sea, more rain for southern Queensland

A new tropical cyclone threat is brewing off the Queensland coast as both ends of the state prepare for more wild storms and wet weather in the coming days.

If the Tropical Low 05U system reaches cyclone intensity it will be named Kirrily. Picture: Windy

More rainy weather is expected to pummel the Queensland coastline through the remainder of the week as a new tropical cyclone threat whips up.

A tropical low hovering over the Coral Sea is expected to gain strength in the coming days and has a more than 50-50 chance of developing into a cyclone, possibly severe, early next week.

While the system is currently moving east away from Queensland, the Bureau of Meteorology senior forecaster Harry Clark said there is a chance it could return and threaten the state’s north.

“As we move into the middle of next week, things become more uncertain,” Mr Clark said. “We couldn’t out it moving towards the Queensland coast.”

If it does form, it will be called Tropical Cyclone Kirrily and would be the second of the season, just five weeks after Cyclone Jasper caused destruction through the far north.

While the topical low is currently having no impact on the coast, a monsoon trough continues to drop widespread isolated heavy falls across far north Queensland. Stuart Valley, near the Daintree, received 167mm of rain on Tuesday.

Mr Clark said the “quite unwelcome” rain is likely to continue for the next few days as the trough remains stagnant and active over the region

Storms are also expected to sweep through Queensland’s south on Thursday and Friday. Severe thunderstorms is likely through inland parts of the Western and Darling Downs.

Several minor flood warning are in place for the Tully and Murray Rivers. Herbert River, Warrill Creek, Barcoo River and Cooper Creek, while the Paroo and Bullo Rivers are under moderate classifications.

“It just goes to show that soils are quite wet and saturated not only in the far north, but also in southeast Queensland after the rainfall we have experienced in the past few weeks,” Mr Clark said.

“So best to watch out for any flash flooding with any rainfall activity over the next few days.”

The hard-hit Gold Coast and Scenic Rim – where residents are still cleaning up from ferocious storms on Christmas and Boxing Day – can expect some rainfall, but a question mark remains over the severity of those storms.

Humidity is expected to be higher than normal and uncomfortable in the coming days.