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Soggy weekend ahead for FNQ /Newsport
Soggy weekend ahead for FNQ
Friday March 7 2014
The Bureau of Meteorology is urging Douglas residents to get ready for a wet weekend.
Forecasters are monitoring two tropical low pressure systems that are expected to bring heavy rainfall throughout far north Queensland.
The first low pressure system was located near the southeast tip of Papua New Guinea at 8am on Friday morning, around 950 kilometres east, north-east of Cairns.
Cairns duty forecaster, Greg Connor said the system was moving in a southwesterly direction at around 20 kilometres per hour.
"We are expecting an increase in rainfall for the Mossman-Port Douglas region around Saturday evening," he said.
"Moderate rainfall should continue throughout Sunday as well."
Mr Connor said he expected the low pressure system to form into a weak cyclone but have little impact on the Douglas region.
"On its current forecast track it looks as though the Port Douglas region will escape the destructive winds from the system," he said.
"It's expected to move south, remaining offshore and head towards the Herbert, Burdekin and central coast area."
If a cyclone is formed, it will be known as Tropical Cyclone Gillian.
A second low pressure system is located in the Arafura Sea and heading in an east-southeast direction.
Mr Connor said the low was around 400 kilometres west of the Torres Strait at 8am on Friday morning.
"This system will start affecting the Cape York Peninsula by Sunday and we're expecting areas of heavy rainfall across the peninsula," he said.
Mr Connor said while the Douglas region may not be severely impacted, he urged residents to keep an eye on the weather.
"At this stage, even though we're optimistic the effects on the area will be minimal, we're asking people to think about their cyclone plan, clearing up their yard and making sure they have an adequate cyclone kit," he said.