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Flash flood warning as ex-cyclone moves across the Cape
WEATHER
UPDATE:
The Bureau of Meteorology has updated its severe weather warning for the region as ex-tropical cyclone Imogen tracks east across Cape York, sifting the affected area slightly south, now encompassing areas from Port Douglas to Ayr.
At 4:00pm, ex cyclone Imogen was located approximately 70 kilometres northeast of Croydon and 80 kilometres west-northwest of Georgetown. Ex-Imogen is forecast to track slowly east-southeast towards the North Tropical Coast and Tablelands, and Herbert and Lower Burdekin districts during Tuesday and then potentially become slow-moving.
The heaviest rainfall is currently occurring around Georgetown and areas between Cairns to Babinda. Heavy rainfall is expected to develop further and become more widespread throughout the remainder of the warning area between Port Douglas and Rollingstone tonight and then extend southward to about Ayr during Tuesday.
Damaging to locally destructive winds are now no longer expected.
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EARLIER:
The region is bracing for a deluge with up to 300mm of rain possible from later today for parts of the Far North in the aftermath of Ex-Tropical Cyclone Imogen.
The system crossed the coast as a category one cyclone just north of Karumba about 9:00pm on Sunday, tracking east across the Cape before weakening into a low-pressure system this morning.
The town of Karumba recorded more than 260mm of rain since 9:00am on Sunday.
The latest tracking map shows the ex-cyclone is currently forecast to pass south of the Douglas Shire, near Ingham.
Severe weather warnings remain in place for areas between Wujal Wujal and Townsville, including the Douglas Shire.
The Bureau of Meteorology has warned that while the system may have been downgraded it is still dangerous with heavy rainfall, which may lead to flash flooding, expected throughout the warning area.
“Six hourly rainfall totals between 150mm to 200mm are likely. Periods of localised intense rainfall leading to life-threatening flash flooding are also possible, with six-hourly totals of 300mm possible about the coast and ranges,” the bureau said.
“Damaging to locally destructive winds are possible with thunderstorms over areas between Georgetown, Atherton, Port Douglas and Laura. This threat is expected to become less likely from tonight.”
A flood watch is also current for the Daintree and Mossman Rivers with the watch extending to rivers between Cooktown all the way down to Ayr.
“Most catchments in the Flood Watch area have recorded rainfall totals of at least 100-300 mm in the past week, with river level rises currently being recorded at many locations. Catchments will therefore respond more quickly than normal to heavy rainfall,” the bureau said.
The Douglas Local Disaster Management Group advised that residents should be prepared for possible flooding with sandbags and sand available at the Mossman SES Shed, located behind the Council building on Front Street Mossman as well as next to the rugby field at the Port Douglas Sports Complex, off Wharf Street. Own shovel required.
Flood camera streams and local road condition updates are available at the Douglas Dashboard or check out the weather conditions on Newsport's Port Douglas Beachcam.
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