Coastal communities are on alert as Tropical Cyclone Lincoln crosses between the Northern Territory (NT)-Queensland border and Port McArthur.
The category one storm is set to batter already rain-lashed cities and regions with more wild conditions, after making landfall on the Gulf of Carpentaria’s southwest coast about 6.30 pm on Feb. 16.
The weather system will move inland and likely weaken in intensity, the Bureau of Meteorology says.
It will then move west across the central NT towards Western Australia (WA) over the weekend, bringing heavy rain to inland communities.
A severe weather warning for heavy rainfall and damaging winds is in place for the western Gulf Country including Burketown.
Wind gusts up to 110 km/h and heavy rain are set to impact Gulf of Carpentaria coastal areas.
Severe storms with heavy rainfall and damaging winds are also predicted for the Peninsula and North West.
Tennant Creek and Elliott in the NT and some northern parts of Queensland could record 24-hour rainfall totals of 50 mm to 100 mm, with 200 mm possible in isolated areas.
Over in Queensland, parts of Brisbane roads and lowlands were under water after suburban waterways overflowed on Feb. 16.
In what was described as Brisbane’s wettest day since the 2022 floods, Rosalie recorded 197 mm, Bowen Hills copped 135 mm while 148 mm soaked Mt Cootha.
In northwest Queensland, communities remain isolated following widespread flooding in the wake of Tropical Cyclone Kirrily, which lingered for days after crossing the Queensland coast weeks ago.
More than 60 residents have been evacuated from Burketown, which recorded 135 mm of rain in 24 hours.
In the NT, people have been evacuated from the community of Beswick, south of Katherine.
The cyclone warning includes parts of northwest Queensland, Mornington Island and the NT’s east, with gale-force winds expected.
The bureau said the system was at “moderate” risk of becoming a cyclone again if it reached waters west of the Kimberley in WA later next week.
The body of a woman was found in a submerged car in floodwaters near Mount Isa on Thursday.
It is believed the 28-year-old had tried to drive through a flooded causeway.
