Brisbane could be drenched by heavy rain as a low expected to become a tropical cyclone closes in on the state’s far north.
On Friday a tropical low was over the Coral Sea, about 350 kilometres from Cairns, and likely to hit north of Townsville late on Saturday or early on Sunday.
The weather system had a “very strong chance” – between 50 and 60 per cent – of developing into a category 1 cyclone before making landfall, according to Angus Hines, a senior meteorologist at the Bureau of Meteorology.
“If you know you’re in a low-lying area, now’s the time to get your sandbags,” Premier David Crisafulli said on Friday.
“My message is prepare now. We’re asking people to do the little things today to help when this rainfall does come.
“Make sure you’ve got your bottled water, your food, batteries and a spare phone charger … I think Queenslanders do it better than anywhere else in the country.”
About 35 millimetres or more could fall on Brisbane early next week, as the remnants of the weather system move south. Credit: Cameron Atfield
Flooding was likely, with up to half-a-metre of rain possible over the next three days in some isolated areas. Wind gusts could reach up to 95km/h.
“One of the key messages I’ve really been telling people is that whether or not this becomes a tropical cyclone, it is going to bring a lot of rain,” Hines said.
