Far North police and emergency services are encouraging residents to stay safe as Tropical Cyclone Tiffany approaches the coast.
Tropical Cyclone Tiffany has intensified to a category 2 system in the northwestern Coral Sea and will cross the eastern Cape York Peninsula coast during the day today. The system will continue to move west during Tuesday and enter the Gulf of Carpentaria. Tropical Cyclone Tiffany will draw the monsoon trough towards northern Queensland over coming days. A high [1023 hPa] will linger near New Zealand for several days, extending a ridge along the east coast south of Townsville.
Heavy rainfall, gales and destructive winds are predicted to impact the Cape York peninsula throughout Monday and into Tuesday.
Residents and travellers are particularly reminded not to become complacent with floodwaters. Deciding to walk to drive through floodwaters can have serious consequences on your life.
Tropical Cyclone Advice Number 12
Issued at 10:55 am EST on Monday 10 January 2022
Tropical cyclone Tiffany is on the Cape York Peninsula coast west of Cape Melville and will move west over the Cape today before redeveloping in the Gulf of Carpentaria and track towards the eastern Northern Territory coast.
Areas Affected
Warning Zone /Lockhart River to Cape Flattery, and also Weipa to Kowanyama on the western Cape York Peninsula
Watch Zone / Nhulunbuy to NT/Qld Border including Groote Eylandt
Cancelled Zone / Cape Tribulation to Cape Flattery including Cooktown and from Cape Grenville to Lockhart River on the eastern Cape York Peninsula, and from Mapoon to Weipa and Gilbert River Mouth to Kowanyama on the western Cape York Peninsula.
Details of Tropical Cyclone Tiffany at 10:00 am AEST [9:30 am ACST]
Intensity: Category 2, sustained winds near the centre of 95 kilometres per hour with wind gusts to 130 kilometres per hour.
Location: within 35 kilometres of 14.2 degrees South 144.1 degrees East, estimated to be 45 kilometres west of Cape Melville and 190 kilometres northwest of Cooktown.
Movement: west southwest at 15 kilometres per hour.
Tropical cyclone Tiffany will move west over Cape York Peninsula today and overnight, weakening before emerging into the Gulf of Carpentaria and redeveloping on Tuesday.
On Wednesday it will move towards the eastern Northern Territory coast where a severe tropical cyclone impact is possible.
Hazards
DESTRUCTIVE wind gusts to 130 km/h are possible near the centre on the coast for a period today.
GALES with gusts to 100 km/h are possible between Cape Flattery and Lockhart River including Coen today.
GALES with gusts to 90 km/h are possible inland as the cyclone moves westward across Cape York Peninsula later today, and may extend for a brief period on the western coast between Weipa and Kowanyama including and Pormpuraaw on Tuesday.
For the Northern Territory east coast: GALES are not expected in coastal areas within the next 24 hours, however gales could develop later on Tuesday over Groote Eylandt.
HEAVY RAINFALL is occurring near the centre is expected to persist into Tuesday as the system moves across Cape York Peninsula. Widespread 24 hour totals of 100 to 150mm are expected, with isolated 24 hour totals of 200 to 250mm possible.
As the system crosses the coast, ABNORMALLY HIGH TIDES are expected between Cape Flattery and Lockhart River today, but the sea level should not exceed the highest tide of the year. Large waves are likely along the beachfront. ABNORMALLY HIGH TIDES are also expected on the western Cape York Peninsula during Tuesday and Wednesday.
Recommended Action
People on the coast between Cape Flattery and Coen, should complete preparations quickly and be prepared to shelter in a safe place.
People between Lockhart River and Coen, and Weipa to Gilbert River Mouth should take precautions and listen to the next advice at 2pm AEST Monday.
– 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)
– If you choose to take shelter away from your home, stay COVID-19 safe and pack a mask and hand sanitiser (if you have them).
– 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 2:00 pm AEST Monday 10 January.
Where to go for Information
Douglas Shire Disaster Dashboard for Council updates, road status, river heights, flood camera footage etc
ABC Emergency – abc.net.au/emergency
Bureau of Meteorology – bom.gov.au/cyclone
Disaster Management QLD – disaster.qld.gov.au
Three Day Forecast
Forecast for Monday until midnight
Winds / Easterly 15 to 20 knots, reaching up to 25 knots offshore north of Cairns during the day.
Seas / 1 to 1.5 metres, increasing to 1 to 2 metres during the morning.
Swell / East to northeasterly around 1 metre outside the reef, tending northerly 1 to 1.5 metres around midday.
Weather / Partly cloudy. 90% chance of showers. The chance of a thunderstorm.
Tuesday 11 January
Winds / Easterly 15 to 20 knots turning southeasterly 10 to 15 knots during the day.
Seas / 1 to 1.5 metres, decreasing below 1 metre during the morning.
Swell / Northwest to northeasterly around 1 metre outside the reef, tending east to southeasterly 1 to 1.5 metres during the morning, then tending southeasterly around 1 metre by early evening.
Weather / Cloudy. 90% chance of showers. The chance of a thunderstorm in the afternoon and evening.
Wednesday 12 January
Winds / Southeasterly 10 to 15 knots.
Seas / Below 1 metre.
Swell / Southeasterly around 1 metre outside the reef, increasing to 1 to 1.5 metres during the morning.
Weather / Partly cloudy. 80% chance of showers. The chance of thunderstorms inshore in the afternoon and evening.
