The Bureau of Meteorology warned that a tropical low in the Coral Sea may turn into a tropical cyclone by Jan. 22 and potentially reach category 3 or higher, posing a “severe impact” on the Queensland coast. Potential landfall could be on Jan. 23, although it was still too early to make precise predictions. The bureau expected to gain more information over the weekend.
Queensland continues to face flood threats after being hit by Cyclone Jasper, with recovery still ongoing. Premiere Steven Miles cautioned that it’s still early to predict, and the situation remains unpredictable. Meanwhile, a monsoon trough has caused heavy rains in the Northern Territory, leading to floods in some areas and posing a threat to Daly River and the Victoria River catchment.
In addition, a tropical low over Elliott, NT is expected to move westward with warmer, humid conditions. Severe storms may deliver heavy rains, damaging winds, and possible flash flooding in Queensland and northeastern NSW. The flooding has left about 150 properties isolated near Grafton, although the State Emergency Service is confident it can provide necessary supplies. Sydney also experienced heavy rains, prompting about 200 incidents across the city.