Cyclone Warning Is Current For The Whitsunday Islands And Adjacent Inland Areas

The forecast path shown is the Bureau’s best estimate of the cyclone’s future movement and intensity. There is always some uncertainty associated with tropical cyclone forecasting and the grey zone indicates the range of likely tracks of the cyclone centre.

Due to the uncertainty in the future movement, the indicated winds will almost certainly extend to regions outside the rings on this map. The extent of the warning and watch zones reflects this.

This product is designed for land-based communities; mariners should read the coastal waters and high seas warnings.

Headline:

Tropical cyclone warning is current for parts of the Lower Burdekin, Central Coast & Whitsunday Islands and adjacent inland areas.

Areas affected:

Warning zone: Ayr to Sarina, including Mackay and the Whitsunday Islands, and adjacent inland areas.

Watch zone: Sarina to St Lawrence.

Cancelled zones: None.

Details of Tropical Cyclone Iris at 7:00 am AEST:

Intensity: category 2, sustained winds near the centre of 100 kilometres per hour with wind gusts to 140 kilometres per hour.
Location: within 55 kilometres of 17.5 degrees South, 148.8 degrees East , 290 kilometres northeast of Townsville and 405 kilometres north of Mackay .
Movement: slow moving .

Tropical cyclone Iris has continued to intensify while moving southward overnight and is currently a category 2 cyclone.

Tropical cyclone Iris is expected to continue moving slowly to the south through most of today while continuing to intensify, before curving more to the southeast, parallel to the Queensland coast, on Wednesday. At this stage, the cyclone is not expected to cross the Queensland coast but may approach the coast close enough to produce significant impacts.

Hazards:

DESTRUCTIVE WINDS extend outwards to 100 kilometres from the centre and may impact the coastal fringe and islands between Bowen and Mackay, including the Whitsunday Islands, from early Wednesday morning.

GALES extend outwards to around 200 kilometres from the centre and may develop about coastal and island communities between Ayr and St Lawrence, including Mackay and the Whitsunday Islands, from this evening or early Wednesday morning, then extend south to St Lawrence later on Wednesday.

Heavy rainfall which may lead to flash flooding may develop during Tuesday and Wednesday. A Flood Watch is current for coastal catchments between Rollingstone and St Lawrence.

Recommended Action:

People between Ayr and Sarina including Mackay and the Whitsunday Islands, and adjacent inland areas, should immediately commence or continue preparations, especially securing boats and property using available daylight hours.
– For cyclone preparedness and safety advice, visit Queensland’s Disaster Management Services website (www.disaster.qld.gov.au)
– For emergency assistance call the Queensland State Emergency Service (SES) on 132 500 (for assistance with storm damage, rising flood water, fallen trees on buildings or roof damage).

People between Sarina and St Lawrence should consider what action they will need to take if the cyclone threat increases.
– Information is available from your local government
– For cyclone preparedness and safety advice, visit Queensland’s Disaster Management Services website (www.disaster.qld.gov.au)
– For emergency assistance call the Queensland State Emergency Service (SES) on 132 500 (for assistance with storm damage, rising flood water, fallen trees on buildings or roof damage).

Tropical Cyclone information is also available in MetEye

Next Issue

The next Forecast Track Map will be issued on bom.gov.au by 11:00 am AEST Tuesday.

Source: http://www.bom.gov.au/products/IDQ65002.shtml