‘Prepare now’: Brisbane rain dump on the cards as north prepares for cyclone

Brisbane could be drenched by heavy rain as a low expected to become a tropical cyclone closes in on the state’s far north.

On Friday a tropical low was over the Coral Sea, about 350 kilometres from Cairns, and likely to hit north of Townsville late on Saturday or early on Sunday.

The weather system had a “very strong chance” – between 50 and 60 per cent – of developing into a category 1 cyclone before making landfall, according to Angus Hines, a senior meteorologist at the Bureau of Meteorology.

“If you know you’re in a low-lying area, now’s the time to get your sandbags,” Premier David Crisafulli said on Friday.

“My message is prepare now. We’re asking people to do the little things today to help when this rainfall does come.

“Make sure you’ve got your bottled water, your food, batteries and a spare phone charger ... I think Queenslanders do it better than anywhere else in the country.”

Flooding was likely, with up to half-a-metre of rain possible over the next three days in some isolated areas. Wind gusts could reach up to 95km/h.

“One of the key messages I’ve really been telling people is that whether or not this becomes a tropical cyclone, it is going to bring a lot of rain,” Hines said.

“Certainly we could have riverine flooding, rivers breaking their banks, roads being shut, landslides are possible and there’s potential for community isolation.

“It almost doesn’t matter too much whether it’s a tropical cyclone or not.”

The premier said many roads were already closed, and residents should monitor official channels instead of Google Maps for updates.

“Don’t trust a company headquartered a long way away, trust the locals.”

The north coast has been hit by heavy downpours in recent weeks, with oversaturated earth increasing the risk of flooding.

Hines added the weather system could move south after landfall, bringing up to 35 millimetres of rain to Brisbane early next week.

“It’s definitely possible,” he said.

“There’s definitely a chance that we do see some heavy rainfall on Monday and potentially until Tuesday as the remnants of this weather system make their way down.

“We could see that number increase as well … I’d be watching out for Monday and Tuesday on that forecast if you’re in the south-east because that is when this weather system may impact you.”

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