Source: Bureau of Meteorology
Media: Transmitters serving the coastal and adjacent inland areas between Bowen and Sarina, including the Whitsunday Islands, are requested to USE the Standard Emergency Warning Signal before broadcasting the following warning
TOP PRIORITY FOR IMMEDIATE BROADCAST
TROPICAL CYCLONE ADVICE NUMBER 27
Issued at 7:59 pm EST on Monday 27 March 2017
Headline:
Severe tropical cyclone Debbie has intensified to category 4.
Areas Affected:
Warning Zone
Cardwell to St Lawrence, including Townsville, Mackay, and the Whitsunday Islands, extending inland to Charters Towers and Mount Coolon..
Watch Zone
Areas further inland including Pentland and Moranbah..
Cancelled Zone
None.
Details of Severe Tropical Cyclone Debbie at 8:00 pm AEST:
Intensity: Category 4, sustained winds near the centre of 165 kilometres per hour with wind gusts to 250 kilometres per hour.
Location: within 30 kilometres of 19.5 degrees South 149.8 degrees East, estimated to be 170 kilometres east northeast of Bowen and 195 kilometres north northeast of Mackay.
Movement: west southwest at 9 kilometres per hour.
Severe tropical cyclone Debbie has strengthened into a category 4 system. It may intensify further as it continues to move west-southwest towards the north Queensland coast tonight. Severe tropical cyclone Debbie is forecast to make landfall between Cape Upstart and Cape Hillsborough (north of Mackay) on Tuesday morning.
Hazards:
The VERY DESTRUCTIVE CORE of tropical cyclone Debbie is forecast to cross the coast between Cape Upstart and Cape Hillsborough (north of Mackay) on Tuesday morning with wind gusts potentially to 275 km/h near the centre of the system.
DESTRUCTIVE WINDS with gusts over 125 km/h will develop about the exposed coast and islands between Cape Upstart and Mackay tonight. These DESTRUCTIVE WINDS may extend further northwest along the coast to Townsville and to adjacent inland areas, including Collinsville, during the day on Tuesday.
GALES are now occurring about the Whitsunday Islands and the nearby coast, extending south to about Sarina, and are expected to extend to the remaining exposed coast and islands elsewhere between Ayr and St Lawrence this evening. GALES could potentially extend further northwest to Cardwell and further inland to locations such as Charters Towers, and Mount Coolon on Tuesday.
GALES may extend further inland to locations such as Pentland and Moranbah as the weakening cyclone moves further inland on Tuesday night.
Residents between Cape Upstart and St Lawrence are specifically warned of the dangerous storm tide as the cyclone crosses the coast on Tuesday morning. The sea is likely to rise steadily up to a level well above the normal tide, with damaging waves and flooding of some low-lying areas close to the shoreline as the cyclone approaches the coast on Tuesday. Large waves may also develop along the beachfront. People living in areas likely to be affected by this flooding should take measures to protect their property as much as possible and be prepared to follow instructions regarding evacuation of the area if advised to do so by the authorities.
Areas of heavy rain with the potential to cause severe flash flooding have developed around the central coast and Whitsundays and are expected to spread to other parts of the northern and central Queensland coast and adjacent inland areas tonight and continue through Tuesday. Widespread daily rainfall totals of 150 to 250 mm, with isolated event totals of 500 mm, are also likely to lead to major river flooding over a broad area next week, and a Flood Watch is current for coastal catchments between Rollingstone and Gladstone, extending inland to the Upper Flinders, Thomson and Barcoo catchments.
Recommended Action:
People on the Whitsunday Islands should complete preparations quickly and be prepared to shelter in a safe place.
People between Cardwell and St Lawrence, and inland to Collinsville, Charters Towers, and Mount Coolon should immediately commence or continue preparations, especially securing boats and property.
- Boats and outside property should be secured using available daylight hours.
People further inland, including Pentland, and Moranbah, should consider what action they will need to take if the cyclone threat increases.
- 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)
- For emergency assistance call the Queensland State Emergency Service on 132 500 (for assistance with storm damage, rising flood water, fallen trees on buildings or roof damage).
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