Parts of Australia still drenched in an ex-tropical cyclone are preparing for a similar system to form off the coast – while southern parts of the country are set to heat up as the weather bureau issues a warning of a new heat wave.
Just over a week after former Tropical Cyclone Kirrily made landfall off the coast of North Queensland, a new cyclone – Tropical Low 06U – began forming near K’gari (formerly Fraser Island) on Friday.
The weather system is currently at a weak subtropical low, but the weather bureau predicts the system will intensify next Wednesday or Thursday.
“A weak subtropical low 06U is moving northeastward in the eastern Coral Sea, off the Australian region,” the agency said.
“The most likely scenario is that 06U will begin moving westward over the Coral Sea next week, towards the northern coast of Queensland.”
Parts of Queensland are preparing for another possible cyclone, with tropical low 06H (pictured) already forming not far from Queensland’s north coast
Weatherzone also believes the cyclone will spend at least a week in waters near the Coral Sea before moving west towards the Queensland coast.
Although meteorologists remain unsure whether the system could become a tropical cyclone, if the system is upgraded it will be the third tropical cyclone to hit Queensland in two months, following Kirrily and Cyclone Jasper, which made landfall in December .
The latest weather forecast comes as the sunny state was lashed by more than 300mm of rain in some regions in the 24 hours to 9am on Friday, as the remnants of TC Kirrily moved through northern parts of the state.
A Bureau of Meteorology has warned that the system is likely to bring heavy rainfall, leading to flash flooding in western parts of the Gulf Country, the North West and Channel Country districts.
Heavy rain with rainfall totals of more than 300mm will lash some regions, while winds of up to 110km/h are also expected as part of a devastating combination of extreme weather.
Northern parts of the country face the prospect of further flooding, including 300mm in some places, as the remnants of ex-tropical cyclone Kirrily move through the region (pictured)
“Isolated six-hour totals between 150 and 200mm are possible, while 24-hour totals are greater than 300mm,” the agency warned.
Flood warnings are also in force on several rivers, including the Flinders, Nicholson and Leichhardt rivers, with many catchments close to capacity.
Local residents and authorities are already facing devastation in the state’s north-west, with Kirrily eventually weakening before pushing into northern NSW on Tuesday.
Roads have been cut off by flooding, while trees have been uprooted and some towns, including Mount Isa, have been without fresh food for a week.
Roads closed by flooding, while trees uprooted (pictured) after ex-tropical cyclone Kirrily
Local residents and authorities are already facing devastation in the state’s northwest following former Tropical Cyclone Kirrily, as they brace for a new tropical cyclone threat (photo of a flooded road in Queensland)
Parts of Australia will be sweltering and scorching conditions are expected in southern parts of the country (photo Sydney beachgoers)
Meanwhile, some parts of Australia, including southern parts of the country, are set to swelter in scorching conditions, with temperatures expected to exceed 40 degrees in parts of WA.
Penrith in western Sydney will reach highs of 39 degrees Celsius on Sunday, while Canberra and Melbourne will reach highs of 35 degrees and 37 degrees Celsius respectively.
Sydney will reach a high of 35 degrees on Monday.
A severe heatwave warning remains in effect for several parts of NSW, including the mid-north coast, the Illawarra and the south coast, through the weekend and into Monday.
Authorities have urged people to keep themselves cool by staying in the shade, drawing blinds and curtains during the hotter parts of the day, and using an air conditioning system if available to reduce heat stress.
The warm weather will certainly provide ideal conditions for beachgoers (beachgoers pictured in Sydney)
A heatwave warning has been issued for several parts of NSW (weather map of areas in the state expecting high temperatures)