Cyclone warning for northwest Queensland by Steph Ball
The Australian Bureau of Meteorology issued a cyclone warning for parts of northwest Queensland on Sunday morning.
Earlier today, Tropical Cyclone Charlotte quickly developed from a tropical low in the Gulf of Carpenteria. According to the Australian Tropical Cyclone Intensity Scale, Charlotte is a Category 1 storm with winds between 39 to 55mph (63 to 88 km/h).
Over the next 24 hours, Charlotte is expected to strengthen to a Category 2 storm as it tracks east over the warm waters of the Gulf, with winds possible up to 73mph (117 km/h). The cyclone is expected to make landfall in the northwest of Queensland early on Monday, bringing torrential rain, gale force winds and dangerous storm tides.
Residents on the coast between Mornington Island and Aurukun have been specifically warned to expect damaging waves and flooding of some low-lying areas.
Queensland experiences a tropical climate and is currently in the midst of its wet or monsoon season. With an active monsoon flow over the north of the Gulf of Carpenteria, gales and squally showers are already affecting northern parts of Queensland, namely the west of the Cape York Peninsula.
Either way it looks as though more northern parts of Queensland are in for some very wet and windy weather over the next few days.
