Updated
Severe Tropical Cyclone Owen and its wind gusts of nearly 200km/h are continuing to move slowly east towards Queensland’s coast.
Key points:
- Owen is expected to cross the coast early tomorrow morning as a category four system
- Parts of the east coast are predicted to get up to 400mm of rain
- BOM says the system will now probably not reach the south-east
The category three system is currently over waters off the Northern Territory and is expected to intensify into a category four system today.
Because of its slow pace Owen is now not expected to cross the coast until early tomorrow morning.
The latest tracking map shows it making landfall between Gilbert River Mouth and Kowanyama.
The Bureau of Meteorology expects Owen will then weaken and move south-east over land before tracking down Queensland’s east coast.
Queensland Fire and Emergency Services Assistant Commissioner Kevin Walsh said as it hugs the east coast it will bring significant rainfall.
“Depending on where it is down the coast, there has even been talks of 400 millimetres plus,” he said.
“It can be anywhere from 100, 200, perhaps 400mm over the next few days. So with that type of rain coming in a very short time, people must be prepared for flash flooding.”
BOM’s Jonty Hall said because Owen is taking its time, the expected path over the south-east has changed.
“It is initially going to track further south but it’s looking less likely that it’s going to approach south-east Queensland now. It does look like it’ll get stalled up around the central coast of Queensland.”
Assistant Commissioner Walsh said the system would bring destructive winds.
“People should be taking precautions and preparations today,” he said.
“They have plenty of time to take preparations around their home, by bringing in any items that can become airborne in these strong, destructive winds.”
Transport Minister Mark Bailey warned drivers that road conditions would be adversely affected over the coming days.
“This is of course around the time people are starting to move about post the school year. We are going to see a lot of rain, across a lot of Queensland and if people are planning on any long distance travel over the next three to four days, they need to be informed by agencies as we see this extreme weather event develop.”
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