Tropical Cyclone Kirrily

24 Jan 2024 / Queensland, Australia

Tropical Cyclone Kirrily is expected to continue strengthening as it tracks west southwest towards the Queensland coast. It is likely to cross the Queensland coast tomorrow night (25 January) in the vicinity of Townsville as a Category 2 system.

At 19:00 today (24 January), the Regional Harbour Master has issued a Red Alert for Townsville, Bowen and Abbot Point and urged the following action:

  • Vessels should have enacted their safety plans noting that the pilotage areas may be closed and/or vessel movements restricted.
  • Vessels are not to leave their cyclone moorings until the official all clear is given by the RHM (some movement may be permitted with RHM permission).
  • It may now be too late to consider the safety of your vessel and weather conditions may limit the ability of emergency services to assist you should you run into difficulties.
  • Ensure your evacuation plan allows for sufficient time to make your way to a shelter ashore.
  • Monitor Conditions and Stay Informed

Further, the Regional Harbour Master declared the Pilotage Areas of Hay Point and Mackay closed to commercial shipping over 50m yesterday (23 January) evening. Vessels at anchor have been directed to get underway and proceed to sea.

The Port of Mourilyan is at Condition ORANGE (Watch and Act).

At Dalrymple Bay, Hay Point and Abbot Point Coal Terminals, no berthing is scheduled until further notice.

According to Tropical Cyclone Advice No.16 issued at 7:51pm EST today, the Warning Zone covers Innisfail to Sarina, including Townsville, Mackay, Bowen, the Whitsunday Islands, and extending inland to Charters Towers.

At 7:00pm AEST, Kirrily was a Category 1 system with sustained winds near the centre of 75km/h with wind gusts to 100km/h. It was located within 55 km of 17.5 degrees South 151.7 degrees East, estimated to be 560km east northeast of Townsville and 485km north northeast of Mackay, and moving west at 10km/h.

Gales with damaging wind gusts to 120 km/h are likely to develop about the Whitsunday Islands tonight and extend to mainland communities between Ayr and Sarina during Thursday morning. Gales with damaging wind gusts to 120 km/h are expected to extend northward to coastal and island communities between Ayr and Innisfail, including Townsville, during Thursday.

Destructive wind gusts to 140 km/h are expected to develop about coastal and island communities between Cardwell and Proserpine, including the Whitsunday Islands, Townsville, and Bowen, later on Thursday.

Heavy rainfall which may lead to flash flooding is likely to develop about coastal areas between Innisfail and Sarina from early Thursday before spreading to inland areas later during Thursday and continuing during Friday.

As the system approaches and crosses the coast, a storm tide is expected between Townsville and Mackay. Large waves may produce minor flooding along the foreshore.

For further details and updates, as well as information about operations in Australia, contact GAC Australia at [email protected]

If quoting any content from Hot Port News, please cite GAC Hot Port News as the source.