Residents of far north Queensland, still reeling from the impact of ex-Tropical Cyclone Jasper, are now facing potential new challenges.
The Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) has issued a warning that a monsoon trough may develop over the Gulf of Carpentaria in the coming days. This weather system could bring heavy rain, thunderstorms, and potential flooding to the east coast and north Queensland.
According to senior meteorologist Shane Kennedy, the monsoon is likely to intensify into a tropical low soon.
Communities like Cooktown, Innisfail, and Ingham, which have already suffered from recent floods, might see daily rainfall between 50mm and 100mm. Kennedy cautioned that such rainfall could lead to flash flooding.
Communities still recovering from Cyclone Jasper face potential new flooding from tropical weather systems.There is a 10% to 15% chance that the monsoon could evolve into a tropical cyclone, depending on its duration over water and its intensity.
Even if it doesn’t become a cyclone, the tropical low is expected to bring significant rainfall to regions still recovering from Jasper’s damage. Coastal areas of the Gulf might experience daily rainfalls of 100mm to 200mm.
On Wednesday, a moderate flood warning was issued for the Paroo River, with minor flood warnings for the Barcoo and Bulloo rivers. The monsoon might also influence weather patterns in the Northern Territory, depending on moisture flow from the north-west.
The devastation from Cyclone Jasper, which struck Queensland on December 13 as a category two storm, included a landslide that blocked the Captain Cook Highway.
The Queensland transport minister announced that parts of this critical route would remain closed until January 20. In response, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese recently pledged an additional $24 million in funding to support the tourism sector and recovery efforts.
Meanwhile, a $20 million disaster relief package was unveiled for the south-east, which was severely affected by storms over the holiday period. The recovery from these disasters is expected to be extensive, with ongoing support needed for affected communities.