Weather Update: Ex-tropical cyclone Owen in Queensland and rain forecast for southeastern Australia
10/12/2018
METEOROLOGIST, DR ADAM MORGAN: It's looking like another big week weather wise across Australia, with ex-tropical cyclone Owen looking to reform in the Gulf of Carpentaria, and the potential for widespread rain, showers and storms across parts of the east.
Ex-tropical cyclone Owen crossed the coast near Port Douglas overnight at 3am, and brought heavy and some damaging wind gusts to parts of the north tropical coast of Queensland.
Kirrama Range saw 349mm in the 24 hours to 9am, and at Bilyana, between Tully and Cardwell, 92mm of the 239mm recorded fell in just 60 minutes.
Wind gusts of 87km/hr were recorded at both Cairns Airport and Innisfail Airports as Owen approached the coast, and we saw some trees down at Yarrabah.
Heavy rainfall fell overnight and is likely to continue about the North Tropical coast today with a severe weather warning still current.
The low will move westwards across northern Queensland during Monday, and then pop out into the Gulf on Tuesday.
At this stage we may see Owen reintensify to towards cyclone strength into early Wednesday morning, so if you're living around the Gulf make sure to keep an eye on official cyclone watches and warnings as they're issued from this afternoon.
As we head into midweek there'll be another weather system to watch.
This cold front will move up from the Southern Ocean and meet a warm, humid airmass already over the east, leading to the formation of a low pressure system over southeast Australia.
What we do know at the moment is that this low pressure system development is looking likely… most of our computer models are showing good agreement on the low forming over either Victoria or southern New South Wales during Thursday.
What we don't know yet is exactly how much rain it might bring, or exactly where the highest totals will be – low pressure systems like this are always dynamic and often difficult to predict.
Although there is the potential for widespread showers and thunderstorms – possibly severe for some – as well as rain in some areas, during Thursday and Friday across most of east and southeast Australia.
At this early stage it's definitely a 'heads up' message on this weather system, with the expected rainfall totals become clearer over the next day or two.
With so much happening this week, make sure to stay tuned to the Bureau website for the latest forecasts and warnings, and follow advice from emergency services.
