By Jeremy Sollars
The Southern Downs and Granite Belt are unlikely to score any significant rain later this week as a result of Tropical Cyclone Debbie, the Bureau of Meteorology says.
The cyclone is expected to cross the Queensland coast between Ayr and Bowen tomorrow morning, Tuesday 28 March, with widespread evacuations being ordered.
While north Queensland cyclones often bring good falls to inland regions in Queensland’s south – despite TC Debbie’s likely destructive fury in the north at this point – it is unlikely to have much impact at a local level.
Bureau forecaster David Crock told the Free Times today, Monday, that TC Debbie is expected to track towards Charters Towers after crossing the coast and will “decay into a tropical depression”.
“We expect Debbie will then track in a south-easterly direction for the remainder of the week, with the heavier falls of rain likely around the Sunshine Coast and possibly extending to Brisbane,” he said.
“For the Darling Downs and Granite Belt it’s really hard to say at this point what effect the cyclone might have but right now I’d say significant rainfall there is unlikely.
“There is a cool change from the south due on Friday and depending on how slow that is might determine the chance of rainfall also.
“But the latest information is that any heavy rain associated with TC Debbie is likely to be concentrated on coastal areas to the north of Brisbane.”
The official BoM forecast for Warwick and Stanthorpe for the remainder of the week is for showers, with possible heavier falls on Thursday.
The bureau has warned that category two Cyclone Debbie is set to intensify to category four strength by tomorrow when it crosses the north Queensland coast.
Labelling it a “very dangerous storm” the bureau warns the cyclone could have “destructive and devastating impacts” and those living in affected areas should evacuate now.
TC Debbie is forecast to be the worst since Cyclone Yasi six years ago.
