This mornings latest update

PRIORITY
TROPICAL CYCLONE ADVICE NUMBER 5
Issued at 5:53 am EST on Tuesday 23 January 2024
Headline:
Tropical cyclone impact likely on the Queensland coast from Wednesday night.

Areas Affected:
Warning Zone
None.
Watch Zone
Cairns to St Lawrence (not including Cairns), including Townsville, Mackay and the Whitsunday Islands..

Cancelled Zone
None.

Details of Tropical Low at 4:00 am AEST [3:30 am ACST]:
Intensity: Tropical Low, sustained winds near the centre of 55 kilometres per hour with wind gusts to 85 kilometres per hour.

Location: within 75 kilometres of 16.0 degrees South 153.9 degrees East, estimated to be 840 kilometres east northeast of Townsville and 420 kilometres east of Willis Island.

Movement: slow moving.

A tropical low (05U) has been developing slowly in the central Coral Sea and is expected to become a tropical cyclone overnight Tuesday or during Wednesday. This system is forecast to track southwest, towards the Queensland coast, over the next few days as it intensifies.

The system is forecast to cross the Queensland coast most likely overnight Thursday between Cardwell and Airlie Beach. The chance of a severe tropical cyclone on landfall remains but has decreased. From Friday, the system is forecast to move further south over inland parts as a tropical low.