Cyclone watch for Cape York as police issue warning to Archer River risk-takers

UPDATE: A cyclone watch is in place for western Cape York, including Weipa, as the Bureau of Meteorology monitors a tropical low which is expected to intensify.

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UPDATE: A cyclone watch is in place for western Cape York as the Bureau of Meteorology monitors a tropical low over the northeastern Gulf of Carpentaria which is expected to intensify.

At 4pm Thursday the tropical low was 135km northwest of Weipa and moving southwest at 9kmh.

“The tropical low is expected to intensify into a tropical cyclone in the next day or two as it moves slowly to the south,” the Bureau of Meteorology says.

The Regional Harbour Master has advised a weather event is likely to affect the Port of Weipa and Port of Amrun within the next 48 hours.

Vessel operators and owners should review their safety plans and address any outstanding matters.

Forecast track map for tropical low, issued 5pm Thursday, January 24. SOURCE: Bureau of Meteorology

A severe weather warning is also in place for a large part of the Far North and Cape York region.

BoM warns heavy rain, which may lead to flash flooding, is expected to develop across Far North Queensland from Thursday night.

Six-hourly rainfall totals of 100mm to 150mm are likely and locally heavier falls are possible with any thunderstorms.

Severe weather warning area, issued by the Bureau of Meteorology at 4.57pm on Thursday, January 24.

The heavy falls are expected to extend south to Dunbar, Palmerville and Port Douglas during Friday.

A Flood Watch is current for catchments across Cape York Peninsula, the eastern Gulf Country and the North Tropical Coast.

Locations which may be affected include Lockhart River, Weipa, Thursday Island, Coen, Port Douglas, Cooktown, Laura, Aurukun, Musgrave, Bamaga, Old Mapoon, Palmerville and Napranum.

EARLIER: A meandering tropical low sitting in the Gulf is tipped as moderate chance of developing into a tropical cyclone from Friday.

A severe weather warning including heavy rain and damaging winds has been issued for the northern Top End and will be extended south to the Cairns region on Friday.

The already swollen Archer River crossing north of Coen swept a removal truck off the causeway earlier this week and according to the Archer River Roadhouse the river is 1.8m over the road and rising.

Monsoonal conditions and a tropical low developing over far north #Qld. A Severe Weather Warning is current with heavy rainfall, damaging winds and high tides for the top end. For the latest warnings visit: https://t.co/DmRWyQueUY pic.twitter.com/Ms6OAJEOiI

— Bureau of Meteorology, Queensland (@BOM_Qld) January 23, 2019

Seargent at the Coen Police Station, Dave McCarthy, told the Cairns Post the driver was lucky to escape with his life.

Sgt McCarthy said motorists continued to ignore road closed signs to attempt the crossing on the Peninsula Developmental Road.

“They are going around road closed signs ignoring that the road is closed and getting to the Archer saying ‘I can do that’ and having a crack,” he said.

A removalist truck has been the third vehicle to swept off the causeway at the Archer River north of Coen this wet season.

Bureau of Meteorology forecaster Kimba Wong said the severe weather warning was being driven by a developing tropical low and increased rain and thunderstorm activity would prevail leading into the weekend.

“Around Port Douglas and Cairns background winds are expected at 27-37km/h but stronger winds with that system we could expect more than 50km/h,” she said.

Ms Wong said depending on how the tropical low developed, Cairns could expect the heaviest falls on Saturday and Sunday.

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“There will be widespread areas of between 50 to 120mm possible on Saturday and similarly and 100mm possible on Sunday with local heavier falls possible,” she said.

“Easing from Monday and anywhere from 50mm will fall next week.”

Today there is a strong wind warning in place for South East Gulf of Carpentaria, North East Gulf of Carpentaria and Torres Strait which will increase to a gale warning on Friday.

MEDIA RELEASE: Monsoonal conditions developing across far north #Queensland. A Severe Weather Warning and Flood Watch have been issued for northern Cape York Peninsula and Torres Strait for heavy rainfall, damaging winds and high tides. Read more: https://t.co/HnC0fvuyM6 pic.twitter.com/kuge47Jc6i

— Bureau of Meteorology, Queensland (@BOM_Qld) January 23, 2019

Sgt McCarthy said drivers returning from holidays en route to Weipa continued to underestimate the power of the water, the uneven surface under the water, their driving ability and that of their vehicle at the Archer River crossing.

“Everyone that lives up here knows that the Archer Crossing causeway is wide then narrows up at the bridge but people that don’t know that get caught out and get stuck or go straight off the edge,” he said.

“Some get through but three have been washed off. Will it take a fatality again for people to wake up to themselves?” he asked.

Ms Wong said the bureau will continue to keep their eye on the tropical low but there is much uncertainly about its track and developing intensity.

“It is looking like it will track a little bit further south but whether that is south east of west is a little bit too uncertain to say exactly where,” she said.

Originally published as Cyclone watch for Cape York as police issue warning to Archer River risk-takers