Focus inland as ex-cyclone carries threat west

The focus now shifts inland to where the rain is moving, warns State Disaster Co-ordinator Shane Chelepy, after Tropical Cyclone Kirrily made landfall last night near Townsville. In an update this morning, authorities reported no loss of life after Kirrily crossed as a Category 2 system about 10pm. Deputy Commissioner Chelepy (pictured left) said there was significant vegetation damage, which was also impacting the energy network - with about 64,000 people without power about 9am. And the Townsville community was being urged to conserve water due to the extensive power outages across the city, impacting four reservoirs and 18 water sites. The tropical low was located over the Northern Goldfields and Upper Flinders district this morning. The Bureau of Meteorology warns it will produce heavy to intense rainfall and could lead to life-threatening flash floods and damaging winds as it continues to move west. A severe weather warning is in force for people in parts of the Gulf Country, Northern Goldfields and Upper Flinders, North West and Central West forecast districts. Ergon shared this image of a tree down on The Strand. Deputy Commissioner Chelepy said to date the system appeared to have caused minor to moderate damage to infrastructure and residences, but this was not widespread. "We have not seen any widespread flooding. Obviously there was heavy rainfall last night and we saw some of those small creeks and catchments response to that," he said. "The focus now shifts to where the rain is moving. "We are ... doing door knocks in Georgetown and the river to around about 15 residents there due to the rises we're seeing in those river systems there. "Over the next few days, we'll have isolated communities, but I have been advised through our disaster management network that they are fully prepared; resupply has taken place. " He said the rainfall associated with former Tropical Cyclone Kirrily was expected to move inland, potentially impacting the Gulf and Channel Country regions of inland Queensland. "So that's where our focus will be and we ask that the Queensland community in those areas, please stay in contact with our messaging, particularly the messaging from the bureau around flood impact areas." Damage in Douglas, Townsville, as shared on the Ergon Energy Facebook page. Bureau of Meteorology Brisbane manager national production services Matthew Collopy said areas through the northern and central interior of Queensland were now under a severe weather warning. The system would continue to move west towards the border over the weekend and into Monday, he said. "The flood watches continue for coastal and adjacent inland catchments between Tully and Airlie Beach and parts of the central west and Gulf catchments. Minor to major riverine flooding will be possible across those areas as the system moves west over the coming days," he said. "With the amount of moisture associated with the ex-tropical cyclone, that moisture will extend across Queensland, including over south-east Queensland over the coming days. "We do see the potential for severe thunderstorms and intense rainfall with those storms as they form over the weekend." Significant rainfalls to date include: 163 mm of rainfall recorded in the 12 hours to 6.12 am at Mount Garnet, 147 mm in the 24 hours to 7am at Crooks Dam, 145 mm in the six hours to 12.33am at Running River (Hidden Valley), 129 mm in the 12 hours to 7.08 am at Upper Poison, 97 mm in the six hours to 3.00am at Mount Fullstop, 96 mm of rainfall recorded in the six hours to 10.11am at Dutton River, and 69.6mm recorded in one hour to 9:35 am at Hughenden Airport. Image at top of page: This tracking map shows the cyclone's crossing last night. Below: The area included in the severe weather warning issued at 10.45am today (January 26).

Focus inland as ex-cyclone carries threat west

Industry Queensland

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