Millions of Australians are preparing to batten down the hatches as Tropical Cyclone Kirrily approaches the northern Queensland coast, bringing brutal rain, gale force winds of up to 140 kilometers per hour and wild gales.
The cyclone is expected to develop into a category two within hours before crossing the coast between Bowen and Ingham on Thursday evening.
The Bureau of Meteorology announced in its latest update on Thursday that the cyclone has strengthened overnight and will intensify as it heads towards the coast in the north of the state.
Kirrily is located approximately 420 km east-northeast of Townsville and travels at an increased speed of 17 km/h.
The cyclone will also bring heavy rainfall as it prepares to make landfall.
Townsville is the cyclone’s line of fire, but ‘significant’ wild weather will become more common along the coast from Innisfail to Sarina, where Mackay, Proserpine, Bowen and Caldwell will also bear the brunt.
Tropical Cyclone Kirrily will develop into Category Two before making landfall this evening
North Queensland residents are preparing for the second cyclone in as many months
“Even though the crossing will take place near Townsville, the impact of the severe weather will be greater and could extend far beyond,” said meteorologist Angus Hines.
‘During the day, strong winds spread throughout the area.
‘Of particular concern are the coastal communities between Townsville and Proserpine, which may experience the strongest winds – potentially damaging or destructive gusts of up to 140km/h or more.’
Wind speeds of up to 140 km can cause extensive damage, including uprooting trees, which can lead to power outages.
It could also result in storm surges along the coast, where sea levels could rise above normal high tide levels and cause flooding on low-lying roads and properties along the coast between Townsville and Mackay.
Kirrily is expected to weaken once it hits the coast and moves inland, where a wet weekend is forecast.
Widespread falls of 100mm to 200mm are expected from the coast to the Northern Territory border.
“On Friday and into the weekend we will continue to see Kirrily move in a westward and south-westerly track, bringing areas of rain through central and western parts of Queensland and possibly moving towards parts of the Northern Territory,” Mr Hines continued.
‘Some areas are likely to exceed 200mm.’
Stormy winds raged across the Whitsunday Islands early on Thursday morning.
Wind gusts of 102 km/h were recorded on Hamilton Island at 4.32am on Thursday.
Townsville schools and businesses will be closed on Thursday as a quarter of a million Queenslanders prepare for Kirrily’s arrival.
Townsville Airport will be closed from midday as many tourists cancel their holidays to flood-ravaged far north Queensland.
Townsville residents are filling sandbags before the system makes landfall this evening
Pictured is a satellite image of Cyclone Kirrily from the Japan Meteorological Agency
Hundreds of properties could be isolated for several days, with residents in Cungulla, Gumlow and Saunders Beach put on alert.
Police were seen going door to door in high-altitude areas to ensure residents were aware they could be cut off for several days.
Residents in far north Cardwell have already started to leave their homes due to the risk of power cuts during the sweltering hot days forecast for this weekend.
The official warning zone for the storm is limited to between Cardwell and Sarina, a 600 km stretch of coastline.
Residents of Townsville, Mackay, Bowen, the Whitsunday Islands and Charters Towers are expected to be hardest hit by the storm.
A storm surge is also expected to cause major damage between Townsville and Mackay, causing minor flooding on beaches in the area.
Hundreds of properties can be closed and isolated for days after heavy rain
The photo shows the forecast precipitation for the seven days ending Tuesday at 11 p.m
The Bureau of Meteorology provided this updated tracking map at 6.20am on Thursday
In the event of extreme flooding, additional fast water rescue boats will be on standby, deploying 54 interstate emergency services to Townsville.
State emergency coordinator Shane Chelepy said the slow-moving system, which previously traveled at just 4.5 mph, allowed the state to be prepared.
He said support teams had been strategically placed at flood zones.
Forecasters say intense rainfall that could cause “dangerous and life-threatening flash flooding” is possible after the cyclone crosses the coast.
The system is likely to weaken to a tropical low and move inland, bringing heavy rain to parts of central and western Queensland from Friday.
While the tropical low is no longer expected to move south, there could still be an “indirect impact” from the system in the southeastern part of the state, the agency said.
Queensland Premier Steven Miles has urged residents to think about what travel is necessary
The photo shows the tropical storm off the east coast of Australia on Thursday morning
“There are still areas in southern and southeastern Queensland that could see significant heavy rainfall this weekend,” a spokeswoman said.
“There is still a lot of moisture in the atmosphere and any showers or storm activity we see in south-east or central Queensland this long weekend could still bring heavy rain and flash flooding as a result of this tropical low.”
Meanwhile, Premier Steven Miles has urged Queenslanders to be prepared and consider what travel is necessary from Thursday and into the weekend.
“After the cyclone reaches the coast, it is likely to weaken to a tropical low, but will be associated with very high rainfall levels,” he said.
“Depending on the trajectory, the rainfall is likely to cause flooding in parts of the state.”
Kirrily is the second cyclone to threaten Queensland in a month, after Jasper, a Category 2 system, caused record flooding that devastated the far north.