Tropical Cyclone Kirrily Threatens Queensland Coastline

Residents along a vast stretch of the Queensland coastline, from Innisfail in the north to the NSW border, are being urged to stay alert as Tropical Cyclone Kirrily approaches. The Bureau of Meteorology has forecasted that the cyclone will make landfall on Thursday as a category 3 storm, potentially causing significant damage and flash flooding throughout the state. The cyclone’s path remains uncertain, with potential impact areas including Townsville and south of Townsville.

Queensland state disaster coordinator Shane Chelepy emphasized the importance of staying updated on weather alerts and taking necessary precautions. With communities still recovering from the effects of previous cyclones and storms, officials are concerned about fatigue among emergency services.

Premier Steven Miles will chair a meeting of the Queensland Disaster Management Committee to receive updated advice from the Bureau of Meteorology and dam operators. Preparations are underway to pre-position emergency support for at-risk communities and quickly restore essential services.

The cyclone’s approach will disrupt the ongoing heatwave in the state, with temperatures reaching 35.4C in Brisbane on Monday. Power operators are closely monitoring the situation to prevent widespread outages caused by the cyclone. Queensland Treasurer Cameron Dick warned of a significant economic impact from Tropical Cyclone Kirrily.