Continued risk of flash-flooding and damaging winds after storm downgraded to category 2 system

This article is more than 1 year old

This article is more than 1 year old

Tropical Cyclone Owen has weakened but will bring the risk of flash-flooding to the Queensland coast after making landfall on the western Cape York.

On Saturday afternoon the category 1 system was tracking south-easterly across the far north after crossing near remote Kowanyama as a category 3 cyclone earlier in the day, bringing winds of 120km/h. It was downgraded to a category 2 system later in the morning and was expected to be a tropical low by the evening.

Residents in inland areas of the far north were experiencing gales and heavy rainfall.

Kowanyama residents escaped the brunt of the storm, which crossed the south-east Gulf of Carpentaria coast between the 1,000-strong community and the Gilbert River mouth.

“Everything’s still intact. I’m pretty happy,” Kowanyama mayor Michael Yam said. “It was a bit scary when it was heading straight towards as a category 3, but everything’s back to normal. I thought we’d get a bit more rain out of it. But we’re always well prepared. My community takes it very seriously.”

The cyclone was moving at 21km/h towards more populated areas and was expected to reach Ingham and Innisfail early on Sunday before running parallel down the east coast over the next 24 to 48 hours.

Potentially damaging winds and flash-flooding, with possible falls of 100-200mm within a six-hour period, posed a risk.

“Please do not be complacent, particularly in that northeast tropics area where the rains will continue,” the Queensland Fire and Emergency Services commissioner, Katarina Carroll, said.

“It’s a heavily saturated area from the past week or so and there may be flash flooding.”

A severe weather warning was in place for the north tropical coast, tablelands, peninsula, northern goldfields and surrounding areas.

Residents were being warned to check with authorities before leaving shelters to “sight-see”, with the risk of hazards including fallen trees, power lines, debris and structural damage to infrastructure.

Meanwhile, parts of south-east Queensland were told to brace for severe thunderstorms bringing hail, strong winds and heavy falls on Saturday.