The first tropical cyclone watch has been issued for Northern Queensland as Tropical Cyclone Jasper approaches the coast. Video courtesy: Bureau of Meteorology
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00:00 The first tropical cyclone watch has been issued for northern Queensland, as tropical cyclone Jasper approaches the coast.
00:05 The tropical cyclone watch area currently extends from Cape Melville in the north to Townsville in the south,
00:11 and includes communities such as Cooktown, Cairns and Port Douglas.
00:15 And we will be updating this watch area every six hours, and that's for the potential for gale force winds within the next 48 hours.
00:21 But as tropical cyclone Jasper approaches the coast, we'll be issuing warnings every three hours.
00:26 It is likely to re-intensify back into a severe category 3 system before making landfall on Wednesday.
00:32 So if you or someone you know is in this area over the next few days,
00:36 share this update and make sure you and your family are prepared.
00:40 And as the system crosses the coast, we can expect damaging to destructive winds, heavy rainfall leading to flooding,
00:46 abnormally high tides and dangerous storm surge. And as the system crosses the coast,
00:51 it will weaken over the Cape York Peninsula and it may redevelop into a tropical cyclone as it pushes out over the Gulf of Carpentaria
00:58 later in the week.
01:00 We've also issued a severe weather warning, and that's for damaging winds south of the system itself on the periphery.
01:06 And we could see damaging winds in excess of 90 kilometres an hour developing during Monday from Mackay north to about Bowen.
01:13 So having a look at the rainfall over the next few days,
01:17 we can see showers tending to heavy rain as the system draws near, and we are expecting to see daily rainfall totals in
01:24 excess of 200 millimetres,
01:26 with the heaviest falls dependent on where the system does cross the coast and how quickly it does move over land.
01:31 With heavy rainfall, we will be issuing flood watches, and that's for the potential of minor to major flooding.
01:38 For many Queenslanders, it's the first tropical cyclone to cross the coast in a number of years.
01:42 If you are in this area, make sure you have the latest information and it's time to get your cyclone plan ready.
01:48 Follow all advice from your local emergency services and please stay safe.
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