The Bureau of Meteorology has indicated that Severe Tropical Cyclone Maila is expected to make landfall on Cape York Peninsula by Sunday. This storm, currently classified as a category three, has the potential to escalate to category four within the next few days.
Meanwhile, the weather across Queensland is anticipated to remain stable for most of the week, with southern regions experiencing temperatures above the seasonal average.
The Bureau has expressed growing confidence that Severe Tropical Cyclone Maila will approach the Far North Queensland coastline, likely crossing Cape York Peninsula around Sunday. The cyclone is currently situated in the Solomon Sea and may strengthen to a category four system shortly.
As of 4 AM on Tuesday, the cyclone was located 970 kilometers east of Port Moresby, with central winds reaching 150 kilometers per hour and gusts of up to 205 kilometers per hour. Senior meteorologist Ilana Cherny noted that the cyclone is expected to remain relatively stationary initially but will begin to move west to southwest later in the week.
Ms. Cherny stated, “We are increasingly confident that it will progress towards the Far North Queensland coast.” She suggested that the cyclone is “most likely” to traverse Cape York Peninsula on Sunday and will bring rainfall to inland areas of Queensland as it weakens.
Additionally, the Solomon Islands have issued warnings for heavy rainfall, storms, and possible gale-force winds in anticipation of the cyclone’s effects.
In terms of the broader weather outlook, Ms. Cherny mentioned that the majority of Queensland would experience settled conditions, with some coastal showers expected over the next few days. However, inland areas are projected to remain dry. She added, “As we approach the weekend and the cyclone nears the coast, we can expect an uptick in rainfall and wind impacts.”
Daily updates will refine the forecast, and Ms. Cherny encouraged residents of Queensland to monitor the updated tracking maps for the cyclone’s progress. “By midweek, we should have a clearer picture of how the system is moving,” she said.
Multiple scenarios regarding the cyclone’s trajectory are possible, including a potential downgrade. While the next cyclone in Australia is anticipated to be named Owen, Ms. Cherny clarified that the naming of Severe Tropical Cyclone Maila falls under the jurisdiction of the Papua New Guinea National Weather Service due to its formation location.
The cyclone season in Queensland spans from November 1 to April 30. The last occurrence of a cyclone crossing the Queensland coast in April was Cyclone Ita, a category four storm that impacted Cape Flattery on Cape York in 2014. Notably, April has a similar likelihood to December for cyclone developments in the Coral Sea.
