Cairns Weather

Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology
Queensland

TOP PRIORITY FOR IMMEDIATE BROADCAST

Severe Weather Warning
for DAMAGING WINDS and HEAVY RAINFALL

For people in North Tropical Coast and Tablelands and parts of Peninsula, Northern Goldfields and Upper Flinders and Herbert and Lower Burdekin Forecast Districts.

Issued at 4:53 pm Friday, 14 December 2018.

Severe Tropical Cyclone Owen will move into the tropical interior on Saturday with heavy rainfall and damaging winds developing.

Weather Situation:
Severe Tropical Cyclone Owen lies over the central Gulf of Carpentaria approximately 190km north of Mornington Island. Tropical Cyclone Owen is expected to continue moving in a easterly track and is forecast to cross the southeast Gulf coast Saturday morning as a category 4 system. The tropical cyclone will move inland and transition into an ex-tropical cyclone by Saturday afternoon. Damaging winds and heavy rainfall are likely to develop in the warning area during Saturday afternoon and evening. The most significant impacts are likely with the passage of the low, however there remains some uncertainty with the movement and strength of the system.
Note a tropical cyclone warning or watch is current for central and western parts of Cape York Peninsula.

Heavy rain, which may lead to flash flooding, is expected to develop within the warning area tomorrow.

6 hour totals of between 100-200mm are possible with locally higher falls in thunderstorms and in vicinity of the ex-tropical cyclone.

Damaging winds, with peak gusts in excess of 90km/h, are likely to develop near the ex-tropical cyclone in the tropical interior during Saturday morning or afternoon, and possibly develop in the North Tropical Coast and Tablelands, and northern Herbert and Lower Burdekin, during Saturday afternoon or evening.

Locations which may be affected include Cairns, Innisfail, Tully, Chillagoe, Port Douglas, Cardwell and Mareeba.

Queensland Fire and Emergency Services advises that people should:
* Move your car under cover or away from trees.
* Secure loose outdoor items.
* Seek shelter, preferably indoors and never under trees.
* Beware of fallen trees and powerlines.
* Never drive, walk or ride through flood waters. If it's flooded, forget it.
* Keep clear of creeks and storm drains.
* For emergency assistance contact the SES on 132 500.


The next Severe Weather Warning will be issued by 11:00 pm AEST Friday.

Warnings are also available through TV and Radio broadcasts, the Bureau's website at www.bom.gov.au or call 1300 659 219. The Bureau and Queensland Fire and Emergency Services would appreciate warnings being broadcast regularly.

Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology
Queensland
Tropical Cyclone Warning Centre

Media: Transmitters serving the area between Gilbert River Mouth and Pormpuraaw
are requested to USE the Standard Emergency Warning Signal before broadcasting
the following warning.

TOP PRIORITY FOR IMMEDIATE BROADCAST

TROPICAL CYCLONE ADVICE NUMBER 32
Issued at 4:33 pm EST on Friday 14 December 2018

Headline:
Owen is continuing to track towards the southeast Gulf of Carpentaria coast.

Areas Affected:
Warning zone: Mornington Island, Sweers Island, and coastal and adjacent inland
areas between Karumba and Aurukun, including Kowanyama, Pormpuraaw and Croydon

Watch zone: Inland areas between Karumba and Cape Keerweer, including
Georgetown and Chillagoe

Cancelled zone: NT/Qld border to Karumba.

Details of Severe Tropical Cyclone Owen at 4:00 pm AEST:
Intensity: Category 3, sustained winds near the centre of 140 kilometres per
hour with wind gusts to 195 kilometres per hour.
Location: within 20 kilometres of 15.0 degrees South 138.9 degrees East,
estimated to be 190 kilometres north of Mornington Island and 310 kilometres
west of Kowanyama.
Movement: east at 17 kilometres per hour.

Severe tropical cyclone Owen is expected to strengthen as it tracks in an
eastwards direction towards the southeast Gulf of Carpentaria coast. Owen is
forecast to intensify to a category 4 system prior to making landfall about the
southeast Gulf of Carpentaria coast, between Gilbert River Mouth and
Pormpuraaw, overnight tonight or during Saturday morning.

Hazards:
VERY DESTRUCTIVE WINDS with gusts in excess of 200 kilometres per hour are
possible right near the centre. Based on the current forecast track, these VERY
DESTRUCTIVE WINDS may develop between Gilbert River Mouth and Pormpuraaw
overnight tonight or during Saturday morning.

DESTRUCTIVE WINDS with gusts to 150 kilometres per hour are likely near the
centre and these are expected to develop between the area north of Karumba and
Cape Keerweer overnight tonight or during Saturday morning.

GALES with gusts up to 120 kilometres per hour may develop about Mornington
Island and Sweers Island later this afternoon or evening. These GALES should
develop about the coast between Karumba and Aurukun tonight before extending to
adjacent inland areas including Croydon, Georgetown and Chillagoe on Saturday.

Areas of heavy rainfall, which may lead to flash flooding, are expected to
occur about the southeast Gulf of Carpentaria coast and across Cape York during
today. These areas of heavy rain are forecast to extend to the north tropical
coast of Queensland into Saturday. A Flood Watch is current for numerous
catchments across northern and central Queensland and a Severe Weather Warning
has also been issued.

As the cyclone approaches and crosses the coast, a storm tide is expected
between the NT/Qld border and Aurukun. Large waves may produce minor flooding
along the foreshore. People living in areas likely to be affected by this
flooding should take measures to protect their property as much as possible and
be prepared to help their neighbours.

Recommended Action:
People about Mornington Island, Sweers Island, and coastal and adjacent inland
areas between Karumba and Aurukun, including Kowanyama, Pormpuraaw and Croydon
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 about inland areas Karumba and Cape Keerweer, including Georgetown and
Chillagoe 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).

Next Advice:
The next advice will be issued by 8:00 pm AEST Friday 14 December.

This warning is also available through TV and Radio Broadcasts; the Bureau's
website at www.bom.gov.au or call 1300 659 212. The Bureau and the State
Emergency Service would appreciate this warning being broadcast regularly.

A map showing the track of the cyclone is available at:
http://www.bom.gov.au/cyclone

Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology
Queensland

Updated Marine Wind Warning Summary for Queensland
Issued at 3:50 pm EST on Friday 14 December 2018
for the period until midnight EST Saturday 15 December 2018.

Wind Warnings for Friday 14 December
Hurricane Force Wind Warning for the following area:
South East Gulf of Carpentaria
Gale Warning for the following area:
North East Gulf of Carpentaria

Wind Warnings for Saturday 15 December
Hurricane Force Wind Warning for the following area:
South East Gulf of Carpentaria
Gale Warning for the following areas:
North East Gulf of Carpentaria and Cairns Coast
Strong Wind Warning for the following areas:
Cooktown Coast and Townsville Coast

The next marine wind warning summary will be issued by 4:45 am EST Saturday.

================================================================================
Check the latest Coastal Waters Forecast or Local Waters Forecast at
http://www.bom.gov.au/qld/forecasts/map.shtml for information on wind, wave and
weather conditions for these coastal zones.
================================================================================

Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology, Queensland
This Flood Watch provides early advice of possible flooding within the
specified catchments.

Flood Watch for the Gulf of Carpentaria, south Cape York Peninsula and coastal
catchments from Cape Tribulation to Rainbow Beach

Issued at 12:48 pm EST on Friday 14 December 2018
Flood Watch Number: 7

Flooding is likely across parts of the Flood Watch area over the weekend and
into next week.

Heavy rainfall associated with Tropical Cyclone Owen is expected across the
Cape York Peninsula and Gulf coast on Friday. Rainfall will develop over the
North Tropical Coast from early Saturday morning and extend southeast through
coastal catchments over the weekend, though there is some uncertainty around
how far south the system will move and the accompanying heavier rainfall.

Further south, locally heavy falls are likely from showers and storms over the
next few days.

Recent rainfall across the Flood Watch area has primed some catchments ahead of
the expected rainfall.

Minor flooding is likely across parts of the Flood Watch area, with moderate to
major flooding possible in catchments that receive the heaviest rainfall.

Heavy rainfall may also lead to local flooding.

The situation will be closely monitored and Flood Warnings issued when required.

Catchments likely to be affected include:

Settlement Creek

Nicholson River

Leichhardt River

Lower Flinders River

Norman River

Gilbert River

Coleman and Edward Rivers

Mitchell River

Staaten River

Daintree River

Mossman River

Barron River

Mulgrave and Russell Rivers

Johnstone River

Tully River

Murray River

Herbert River

Black River

Ross and Bohle Rivers

Haughton River

Belyando and Suttor Rivers to Burdekin Falls Dam

Cape River to Burdekin Falls Dam

Burdekin River to Burdekin Falls Dam

Burdekin River downstream of Burdekin Falls Dam

Don and Proserpine Rivers

Pioneer River

Dawson and Don Rivers

Comet and Nogoa Rivers

Connors, Isaac and Styx Rivers and Plane Creek

Mackenzie and Fitzroy Rivers and Shoalwater and Water Park Creeks

Calliope River

Boyne River

Baffle Creek

Kolan River

Burnett River

Burrum and Cherwell Rivers

Mary River

See www.bom.gov.au/qld/warnings to view the current flood warnings for
Queensland.
For more information on the Flood Watch Service:
http://www.bom.gov.au/water/floods/floodWarningServices.shtml

Flood Safety Advice:
This Flood Watch means that people living or working along rivers and creeks
should monitor the latest weather forecasts and warnings.
Remember: If it's flooded, forget it.

For flood emergency assistance contact the SES on 132 500.
For life threatening emergencies, call Triple Zero (000) immediately.
Current emergency information is available at www.qld.gov.au/alerts.
This advice is also available by dialling 1300 659 219 at a low call cost of
27.5 cents, more from mobile, public and satellite phones.
Warning, rainfall and river information are available at
www.bom.gov.au/qld/flood/

Next issue:
The next Flood Watch will be issued by 01:00 pm EST on Saturday 15 December
2018.