‘High chance’ of tropical cyclone forming off Qld on Sunday

The threat follows a long stretch of wild, wet weather conditions in Far North Queensland earlier this month.

Queenslanders are bracing for a potential tropical cyclone, as the weather bureau predicts a system to form off the flood-ravaged state’s coastline as early as Sunday.

Tropical low 22U is currently “a long way away from the coast” and north of Willis Island, a coastal island some 450km east of Cairns, Queensland, senior meteorologist Dean Narramore told NewsWire.

It is expected to strengthen in coming days and potentially form as a category 1 system as early as 11pm on Sunday.

“In the early stages, we know if the tropical cyclone develops, it will move towards the southeast, further away from the Queensland coast,” Mr Narramore said.

22U is currently ‘a long way away’ from the Queensland coast. Picture: Windy

“From mid-late next week, it’ll likely move south through the Coral Sea. From that time it could go anywhere, depending on the weather conditions.”

There is little to no rainfall expected on the Queensland coast during this time given the system will develop offshore.

“Once it develops, we will get a better idea of what steering mechanisms will move it and where it will move,” Mr Narramore said.

The cyclone threat follows a prolonged stretch of extreme weather conditions that brought thousands of millimetres of rain to parts of Far North Queensland earlier this month.

There is a high risk 22U will form a tropical cyclone. Picture: Bureau of Meteorology

The February rain dump brought 20 per cent more rain and 20 per cent more wind from an ocean 1.5C warmer than during similar storms last century.

“For the second time in six years, Townsville has been hit by a ‘once-in-a-century’ flood, sending a surge of sediment, nutrients and pollutants toward the Great Barrier Reef,” marine biologist Jodie Rummer said on February 6.

“These floodwaters smother corals, block sunlight and disrupt marine ecosystems – impacts made worse by rising ocean temperatures.”

On the other side of the country, tropical low 21U is expected to form a tropical cyclone off the Kimberley and develop on Saturday.

Depending on whichever forms first, the West Australian and Queensland systems will be either named Alfred or Bianca.

Originally published as ‘High chance’ of tropical cyclone forming off Qld on Sunday