‘High Risk’ Lincoln Will Turn Back Into a Cyclone in Western Australia

A yacht having broken it's mooring is seen against the rock wall at Blackwall Reach in Bicton on May 25, 2020 in Perth, Australia. Paul Kane/Getty Images

A massive storm dumping heavy rain in Western Australia has a 60 per cent chance of redeveloping into a tropical cyclone.

The weather system, which was formerly Tropical Cyclone Lincoln, continued to move slowly west from the Northern Territory into the Kimberley on Feb. 20.

It’s located near Halls Creek, with the Bureau of Meteorology warning widespread rainfall could lead to flooding in some areas.

The system is expected to move west-northwest through the Kimberley and cross the coast by mid-week.

Senior Meteorologist Angus Hines said it could gather strength and develop tropical cyclone strength later this week as it moves south down the WA coast.

“We will see the wind speed really start to ratchet up around the ex-tropical cyclone through the course of the second half of this week,” he said.

“Thursday and Friday bring a high risk, a 60 per cent chance, of re-intensification back into a tropical cyclone for what would then become once again Tropical Cyclone Lincoln.”

The bureau said it was possible the weather system could cross the coast in the Gascoyne region at the weekend as a severe tropical cyclone.

“The current forecast that brings the system back onshore during Saturday morning somewhere near Exmouth in the far northwest of WA,” Mr. Hines said.

From Feb. 25, Lincoln is likely to weaken over land.

Tropical Cyclone Lincoln crossed the NT coast near Borroloola on Feb. 23 and weakened as it moved inland across central NT.

The system has bucketed heavy rain in the NT in recent days, with 103mm was recorded in six hours early on Feb. 20 at the remote community of Lajamanu.

A severe weather warning remains in place for parts of the NT’s Tanami and Gregory districts, with residents warned 24-hour rainfall totals up to 200mm and flash flooding are possible.

A similar warning has been issued for parts of the eastern Kimberley district for Feb. 20 and Feb. 21.

Six-hourly rainfall totals between 50 to 80mm and 24-hour rainfall totals between 80 to 120mm are likely, the bureau said.

Isolated areas may recieve falls of up to 200mm.

A flood watch alert has been issued for northwest Queensland, central NT and most of WA’s north.

In NSW, more than 35mm of rain was dumped in an hour on parts of Sydney’s southwest.