Tropical Cyclone Dylan

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A tropical depression has organised itself into a storm of tropical cyclone status 1 over the last few hours. TC Dylan is currently located off the coast of Queensland. The storm itself will likely remain disorganised as it crosses the Queensland coastline, and therefore it's major impacts be heavy and widespread rainfall, along with flooding( as it hits the coastline in association with King tides).

Warnings and maps to follow

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Source: BOM Australia

Issued 7:27pm nzdt 30 January 2014
Remarks:

Tropical Cyclone Dylan is expected to continue moving in a general southwesterly direction and further intensify before crossing the Queensland coast between Townsville and Bowen in the early hours of Friday morning.

The cyclone and a strong ridge of high pressure further south are combining to generate GALES at times along much of the east coast between Cardwell and St Lawrence. Winds are expected to increase further between Lucinda and St Lawrence during the remainder of today and extending to adjacent inland areas on Friday morning with DESTRUCTIVE WIND GUSTS to 150 kilometres per hour possible.

Heavy rain, which may lead to flash flooding, is expected to develop about coastal and adjacent inland areas of the Herbert and Lower Burdekin and the Central Coast and Whitsundays districts during today.

Coastal residents between Lucinda and St Lawrence, including Townsville are specifically warned of the dangerous storm tide, particularly on the high tide today and on Friday. The sea is likely to rise steadily up to a level well above the normal tide, with damaging waves and flooding of some low-lying areas close to the shoreline. People living in areas likely to be affected by this flooding should take measures to protect their property as much as possible and be prepared to follow instructions regarding evacuation of the area if advised to do so by the authorities.

A storm tide is expected between Cardwell and Lucinda, particularly on the high tide on Thursday and Friday. Large waves may produce minor flooding along the foreshore. People living in areas likely to be affected by this flooding should take measures to protect their property as much as possible and be prepared to help their neighbours.

A separate Severe Weather Warning is current for remaining coastal and island communities from Cooktown to Cardwell and from St Lawrence to Gladstone, extending inland to the northern Central Highlands and eastern parts of the Central West districts on Friday.

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BOM have just upgraded this TC to category 2. System is expected to come onshore at Broome with increasing shear prior to 9am nzdt. This will likely lead to a TC category 2 with increasing strength at this point. However system is unlikely to intensify enough to reach category 3.