First track map issued for possible North Queensland cyclone
In short:
The Bureau of Meteorology is warning there is a moderate risk a tropical low developing in the Coral Sea will cross the coast later this week as a tropical cyclone.
It is likely to bring heavy rainfall to areas where floodwaters are still draining.
What's next?
Daily rainfall totals of between 50 to 100 millimetres are expected between Cooktown and Ingham from Thursday, with isolated falls of up to 200 to 300mm.
The Bureau of Meteorology has issued its first advice for a possible tropical cyclone developing in the north Coral Sea off the coast of north Queensland.
Tropical Low 29U is moving north-west, north of Willis Island, but it is expected the system will turn south-west later today, before making landfall on the north tropical coast as a cyclone on Friday.
A forecast track map of Tropical Low 29U. (Supplied: BOM)
The first track map for the low has it crossing the coast between Cooktown and Lucinda on Friday morning.
If a cyclone is declared, it could be named Narelle or Owen, with a tropical low off the Western Australian coast possibly developing into a cyclone before the Queensland system.
Senior meteorologist Shane Kennedy said there was a marginal chance the tropical low would reach cyclone strength.
"It is hovering around a 45 per cent chance of developing into a tropical cyclone over the next two days as it approaches the coast," Mr Kennedy said.
"Regardless … we expect the impacts will be fairly similar. We expect at least some gale force winds."
The system is likely to bring heavy rainfall, possibly leading to flash flooding, in coastal areas north of Ingham from tomorrow.
Senior meteorologist Shane Kennedy said rainfall totals up to 100 millimetres were expected between Cooktown and Ingham tomorrow and Friday.
He added that isolated falls of 300mm were possible for the region, which is already subject to a flood watch.
"Catchments are very wet … we're likely to see some river rises particularly on Thursday and Friday and potentially into the weekend," Mr Kennedy said.
The Bruce Highway reopened north of Ingham on Tuesday to the relief of stranded truckies and travellers. (Supplied: Sue Jackson)
The flooded Bruce Highway reopened north of Ingham yesterday after truckies and travellers spent Monday night stranded following a deluge that cut roads and isolated communities.
Floodwater is still draining throughout the region, where some residents remain isolated by surface water or inundated roads.
Mr Kennedy said the region would see a "lull" before the low arrived, with heavy rainfall contracting north in the meantime
Flooding rain damaged roads and bridges throughout the Hinchinbrook Shire. (Supplied: Hinchinbrook Shire Council)
"Particularly around the Mossman area, where we did see some areas getting just over 200 millimetres of rainfall," Mr Kennedy said.
One weather station in the Daintree received 334mm in the 24 hours to Tuesday morning.
Tropical Low 29U could draw more moisture across catchments under the flood watch area after its expected landfall.
"Across the weekend, we are expecting Tropical Low 29U to move across land, but it may draw deep moisture in across a broad part of the state," Mr Kennedy said.
"Eastern districts potentially all the way down to the south-east may see an increase in rainfall late this week and across the weekend."
Weeks of flooding out west
In western and south-western Queensland, catchments remain in flood after heavy rain last week.
Mr Kennedy said it would take some time for water to drain through inland areas.
"We had significant rainfall in December that continued through January over parts of central and western Queensland," he said.
"On top of that ongoing flooding in parts of central and western Queensland, we then had very significant rainfall, particularly over parts of the Northern Territory and parts of far western Queensland last week that has led to major flood warnings across large parts of western Queensland.
"I expect we will have flood warnings ongoing for several weeks."