Tropical Cyclone Watch Issued for Far North Queensland: Lockhart River to Port Douglas

Alert Details

The Australian Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) has issued a tropical cyclone watch for Far North Queensland. The alert, identified as IDQ65002, concerns Tropical Low 34U, which is currently developing in the northern Coral Sea and is forecast to reach tropical cyclone intensity tonight.

Affected Areas

The current watch zone extends from Lockhart River to Port Douglas. Specific regions mentioned in the alert include Coen, Cooktown, Cape Melville, and the Peninsula.

What You Should Do

Residents in the watch zone are advised to take the following actions:

• Stay informed by checking local government Disaster Dashboards for the latest updates.
• Review cyclone preparedness and safety plans immediately.
• Monitor future updates as the system approaches the coast.

Expected Conditions

Tropical Low 34U currently has sustained winds near the center of 75 km/h with gusts up to 100 km/h. As it intensifies and moves west, the following hazards are expected:

• Destructive Wind Gusts: Up to 155 km/h possible between Coen and Cooktown.
• Damaging Wind Gusts: Up to 120 km/h possible between Cape Melville and Port Douglas, and between Lockhart River and Cape Melville.
• Heavy Rainfall: Potential for flash flooding between Cape Melville and Port Douglas, and heavy rain likely between Lockhart River and Cape Melville.
• Coastal Hazards: Tides are expected to be higher than normal between Coen and Port Douglas. Large waves may produce minor flooding of low-lying coastal areas.

Timeline

• Tuesday, March 17: Tropical Low 34U is forecast to become a tropical cyclone tonight.
• Thursday Morning: Damaging winds possible between Cape Melville and Port Douglas.
• Thursday Afternoon/Night: Winds intensify; destructive gusts possible between Coen and Cooktown.
• Thursday Evening: Heavy rainfall and flash flooding risk begins.
• Friday: Heavy rainfall likely between Lockhart River and Cape Melville.
• Late Week: Severe impacts are likely as the system approaches the far northeast Queensland coast.