Dangerous flash flooding a concern as Tropical Cyclone Kimi looms off coast
Dangerous flash flooding could hit far north Queensland as Tropical Cyclone Kimi was expected to cross the coast between Innisfail and Ingham overnight.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said far north Queenslanders needed to be vigilant on Monday, with the Bureau of Meteorology sending alerts every three hours.
The Queensland disaster management committee will sit at 3.30pm on Monday to preparations for the cyclone.Credit:Twitter
“We want everyone in these regions to be listening to their radio and media messages ... and of course cyclones are unpredictable and will move during the course of today,” she said.
"I know that people up in the north are normally very well prepared when it comes to cyclones."
Ms Palaszczuk said the Queensland disaster management committee would meet at 3.30pm on Monday to discuss preparations for the cyclone.
She was "concerned" about possible flash flooding.
Bureau of Meteorology forecaster David Grant said the cyclone was set to intensify to a category 2 on Monday night or Tuesday as it would cross the east coast.
“Our tropical cyclone warning is current for areas between Port Douglas and that’s recently been extended to Ayr and includes Cairns and Townsville,” he said.
“A heavy to intense rainfall and potentially dangerous flash flooding will be a risk for the tropical east coast over the next couple of days and as a result, a flood watch is current for coastal catchments between Cape Flattery and Ingham.
“Damaging to destructive winds with gusts of 150km/h are expected to develop during the course of today or tomorrow depending on the path Kimi takes.”
Jocelyn Garcia is a journalist at the Brisbane Times, covering breaking news.