Queensland and Western Australian residents warned of two potential cyclones

RESIDENTS across Northern Australia are being warned to brace for the potential of twin cyclones.

Cyclone sandwich: Australia on alert again

RESIDENTS across Northern Australia are being warned to brace for the potential of twin cyclones forming by the end of the week.

The weather bureau says there is a high chance of the systems developing, one off the coast of Western Australia by Wednesday and another off the coast of Queensland by Thursday.

“Conditions become very favourable from Wednesday onwards and it is likely that a tropical cyclone will have formed by late Wednesday or during Thursday,” the bureau says of the WA system.

“This system is likely to pose a threat to coastal communities later in the week or over the weekend.”

Developing: The latest satellite image shows the systems forming of the coasts in northern Queensland and Western Australia. Picture: BOM

Queensland weather forecaster Jess Carey said the most likely scenario for the second storm off Cape York was for it to reach cyclone strength on Thursday.

“It’s a bit far out to be sure,’’ Ms Carey said. “This will be our fourth cyclone for the season and it will be called either Nathan or Olwyn, depending on whether it or the one in the Indian Ocean forms first.’’

Early indications suggest it would be a weak Category 1 and travel southwest, crossing Cape York somewhere north of Cairns.

Early indications: This is the forecast map for Thursday morning showing the two systems nearing the Australian coast. Picture. BOM

However, in WA, computer models are pointing towards a much stronger system forming off the Pilbara coast, with one model image suggesting the cyclone will barrel all the way down the west coast to Perth.

“It shows a powerful cyclone approaching the Gascoyne, and then barrelling down the (west) coast of Western Australia at lightning speed, giving Perth a good raking and reaching the (south) coast. This would be an incredible scenario, and we thought our WA friends would find it kind of jaw-dropping. Before you freak out: computer models are usually wrong this far in advance,” iCyclone posted on their Facebook page.

Worst case scenario: This computer model shows the cyclone making its way down the coast to Perth. Picture: iCyclone

Just over two weeks ago Australia faced the same situation with Cyclone Marcia and Cyclone Lam causing widespread damage across the Northern Territory and the central Queensland coast.

Destruction: An uprooted trees block the road after Tropical Cyclone Marcia hit the coastal town of Yeppoon in north Queensland.

Powerful: Damage to buildings in Yeppoon after the recent cyclone. Pic Peter Wallis

Homes lost: Aftermath images from around the Yeppoon area after devastating tropical cyclone Marcia passed through. Photo: Scott Radford-Chisholm