Tropical Cyclone Kirrily update (25 January)

25 Jan 2024 / Queensland, Australia

The Regional Harbour Master has issued an Emergency Warning - Red Alert for Townsville, Bowen and Abbot Point as Tropical Cyclone Kirrily continues to track towards the Queensland coast.

The Pilotage Areas of Hay Point and Mackay have been closed to commercial shipping over 50m and vessels at anchor have been directed to get underway and proceed to sea.

A Red Alert is also in force for Mourilyan.

There is no berthing scheduled until further notice at the coal terminals at Dalrymple Bay, Hay Point and Abbot Point.

Tropical Cyclone Kirrily to cross the coast near Townsville tonight (25 January). Gales now occurring over Whitsunday Islands, to extend to the mainland today.

It is a Category 2 cyclone with sustained winds near the centre of 95km/h and wind gusts to 130km/h. It is located within 35km of 18.5 deg. South, 148.9 deg. East, estimated to be 240km east northeast of Townsville and 295km, and moving west southwest at 18km/h. From Friday, Kirrily is likely to track further inland as a tropical low, resulting in heavy to intense rain to parts of the northern interior and western Queensland.

Gales with damaging wind gusts to 120 km/h are expected to extend northward to coastal and island communities between Ayr and Ingham, including Townsville, during this afternoon and evening and may extend north between Ingham to Innisfail if the system takes a track further north.

Destructive wind gusts to 140 km/h may develop about coastal and island communities between Ayr and Bowen, during this evening extending north to Ingham, including Townsville tonight.

Heavy rainfall which may lead to flash flooding is likely to develop about coastal areas and nearby inland between Tully and Bowen during this afternoon before spreading further inland this evening and Friday.

As the system approaches and crosses the coast, a storm tide is expected between Townsville and Mackay.

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.