By Adam Douty, AccuWeather senior meteorologist
December 31, 2018, 8:36:25 AM EST
A tropical cyclone in the Gulf of Carpentaria will threaten northern and eastern Queensland with flooding in the wake of Tropical Cyclone Owen.
Low pressure in the Gulf of Carpentaria developed into a tropical cyclone on Monday. Heavy, potentially flooding rainfall will likely ensue across the Cape York Peninsula into the start of the new year.
This rain is coming after Tropical Cyclone Owen made landfall nearby during the middle of December.
Rainfall in the Cape York Peninsula is expected to reach 150-300 mm (6-12 inches). Communities such as Nanum, Aurukun and Cooktown will be as risk for the heaviest rain. Peninsula Development Road (Queensland State Route 81) could be significantly impacted by flooding and washouts early this week.
While heavy rainfall is likely across northern Queensland early this week, impacts are not yet as certain across eastern Queensland.
As the strengthening tropical cyclone pulls into the Coral Sea, two scenarios are most likely.
In one scenario the cyclone would continue to track southeastward across the Coral Sea, possibly threatening Vanuatu or New Caledonia.
The second scenario is the most threatening for Australia as the cyclone turns back to the west and nears the central Queensland coast by the weekend.
In this scenario, communities from Townsville to Mackay and Gladstone would be threatened by potentially damaging wind and flooding rain. As there remains uncertainty in the track, residents in eastern Queensland should continue to monitor the situation.
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