IDQ20023
Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology
Queensland
Tropical Cyclone Warning Centre
Media: Transmitters serving the coastal and adjacent inland areas between Ayr and Sarina, including the Whitsunday Islands, are requested to USE the Standard Emergency Warning Signal before broadcasting the following warning
TOP PRIORITY FOR IMMEDIATE BROADCAST
TROPICAL CYCLONE ADVICE NUMBER 45
Issued at 2:00 pm EST on Tuesday 28 March 2017
Headline:
Eye wall of severe tropical cyclone Debbie now impacting the Whitsunday Islands and nearby mainland.
Areas Affected:
Warning Zone
Townsville to St Lawrence, including Mackay, and the Whitsunday Islands, extending inland to Charters Towers, Mount Coolon, Moranbah, and Pentland.
Watch Zone
None.
Cancelled Zone
Lucinda to Townsville.
Details of Severe Tropical Cyclone Debbie at 2:00 pm AEST:
Intensity: Category 4, sustained winds near the centre of 175 kilometres per hour with wind gusts to 250 kilometres per hour.
Location: within 20 kilometres of 20.3 degrees South 148.6 degrees East, estimated to be 45 kilometres southeast of Bowen and 15 kilometres north of Proserpine.
Movement: southwest at 11 kilometres per hour.
Severe tropical cyclone Debbie is a category 4 cyclone. The system is forecast to move slowly southwest over the next 12 to 18 hours before curving to a more southerly track over inland Queensland. The cyclone is making landfall on the mainland near Airlie Beach, and will move gradually inland through this afternoon and evening. As the system moves inland, the peak winds near the centre will begin to weaken rapidly.
Recent significant wind gust observations include:
- 262 km/h at Hamilton Island airport at 10:30 am
- 165 km/h at Proserpine Airport 12:57 am
- 148 km/h at Bowen Airport at 1:35 pm
Hazards:
The VERY DESTRUCTIVE CORE of severe tropical cyclone Debbie is now impacting the Whitsunday Islands and the nearby mainland. The centre of the system is making landfall on mainland coast between Bowen and Airlie Beach with wind gusts potentially to 230 km/h near the centre.
DESTRUCTIVE WINDS with gusts over 125 km/h are occurring about the coast and islands between about Cape Upstart and Midge Point, including Bowen and Proserpine, and will extend further along the coast to areas between Ayr and Cape Hillsborough (north of Mackay) during this afternoon. These DESTRUCTIVE WINDS may extend further northwest along the coast to Ayr and to adjacent inland areas, including Collinsville, and Mount Coolon late today into this evening. Destructive winds are no longer expected in Townsville, Charters Towers, Mackay or Sarina.
GALES are now occurring about the coast and islands between about Cape Bowling Green and Sarina. These GALES are expected to extend to the remaining coastal and island areas between Townsville and St Lawrence later today. GALES could potentially extend further north to Lucinda and further inland to locations such as Charters Towers, Pentland, Mount Coolon, and Moranbah this afternoon and tonight.
Residents between Abbot Point and St Lawrence are specifically warned of the dangerous storm tide as the cyclone crosses the coast. The sea is likely to rise steadily up to a level which will be significantly above the normal tide, with damaging waves, strong currents and flooding of low-lying areas extending some way inland. People living in areas likely to be affected by this flooding should take measures to protect their property as much as possible and be prepared to follow instructions regarding evacuation of the area if advised to do so by the authorities.
Areas of heavy rain with the potential to cause severe flash flooding have developed around the Central Coast and Whitsundays district. These heavy rain areas are expected to spread further inland through central and southeastern Queensland. Widespread daily rainfall totals of 150 to 250 mm are expected, with significantly higher totals possible locally. This is likely to lead to major river flooding over a broad area this week, and a Flood Watch for coastal catchments between Ayr and the NSW border, extending inland to parts of the Central Highlands and Coalfields, Central West, Maranoa and Warrego, and Darling Downs and Granite Belt forecast districts.
Recommended Action:
- People in the path of the very dangerous cyclone should stay calm and remain in a secure shelter - above the expected water level - while the very destructive winds continue.
- Do not venture outside if you find yourself in the eye of the cyclone - very destructive winds from a different direction could resume at any time.
- Follow the evacuation advice or directions of Police, Emergency Services personnel and local authorities.
People elsewhere along the coast between Lucinda and St Lawrence and adjacent inland areas, including Collinsville, Charters Towers, Pentland and Moranbah, should complete preparations quickly and be prepared to shelter in a safe place.
- Boats and outside property should be secured.
- For cyclone preparedness and safety advice, visit Queensland's Disaster Management Services website (www.disaster.qld.gov.au)
- For emergency assistance call the Queensland State Emergency Service on 132 500 (for assistance with storm damage, rising flood water, fallen trees on buildings or roof damage)..
Next Advice:
The next advice will be issued by 3:00 pm AEST Tuesday 28 March.
This warning is also available through TV and Radio Broadcasts; the Bureau's website at www.bom.gov.au or call 1300 659 212. The Bureau and the State Emergency Service would appreciate this warning being broadcast regularly.
A map showing the track of the cyclone is available at: http://www.bom.gov.au/cyclone