Key Takeaways
- Ex-cyclone Koji is moving westward across Queensland’s north, bringing life-threatening flash flooding to regions still recovering from record rain.
- Almost 50,000 cattle have been lost in western Queensland, with the number expected to increase as graziers report their losses.
- The Bureau of Meteorology has issued warnings for intense rainfall and flash flooding in inland regions between Mackay and Gladstone.
- Six rivers in Central and North Queensland are expected to flood, including the Connors and Isaac rivers, which may exceed flood levels experienced during ex-tropical cyclone Oswald.
- The storm may reach the Northern Territory and potentially redevelop into a cyclone if it reaches the waters off the north coast of Western Australia.
Introduction to Ex-Cyclone Koji
Ex-cyclone Koji is bringing life-threatening flash flooding to regions in Queensland’s north, with communities still recovering from record rain in the new year. The cyclone was declared a category 2 storm on Saturday evening but was downgraded to category 1 and then weakened below tropical cyclone intensity as it crossed the coast between Ayr and Bowen on Sunday morning. Premier David Crisafulli praised local communities for their preparedness, which meant no lives had been lost as the storm made landfall.
Government Response and Relief Efforts
The government has been actively involved in disaster response efforts, with Premier Crisafulli announcing that medicine and supplies were being dropped to cattle in western Queensland regions. The number of cattle lost is expected to increase as graziers report their losses, with almost 50,000 animals already lost. Crisafulli urged inland communities to remain vigilant to flooding, warning that the situation was still evolving. The Bureau of Meteorology has issued warnings for intense rainfall and flash flooding in inland regions between Mackay and Gladstone, with meteorologist Christie Johnson saying that flash flooding posed the biggest risk.
Weather Forecast and Expected Flooding
The weather bureau has predicted that six rivers in Central and North Queensland will flood in coming days, including the Connors and Isaac rivers, which may exceed flood levels experienced during ex-tropical cyclone Oswald. Johnson said that the main concern was flash flooding, rather than swollen rivers, and that the storm moving west across the week would bring rain to areas still recovering from flooding. The storm is expected to reach the Northern Territory and potentially redevelop into a cyclone if it reaches the waters off the north coast of Western Australia. The state’s south-east is expected to receive scattered thunderstorms, which will center on the Sunshine Coast hinterland region and travel south through the week.
Rescue Efforts and Damage Assessment
Five people were rescued by the SES overnight on Sunday, and 158 requests for help were made by Monday morning. Queensland police said 60 additional SES personnel had been deployed in the most affected regions. Crisafulli said that affected coastal communities were quickly recovering, with 20,000 homes reconnected to power and all ferry services resuming. The Bureau of Meteorology has urged inland regions between Mackay and Gladstone to brace for flash flooding brought on by ex-cyclone Koji. The situation is still evolving, with the number of cattle lost and the extent of the damage expected to increase as more information becomes available.
Conclusion and Future Outlook
Ex-cyclone Koji is bringing significant challenges to communities in Queensland’s north, with life-threatening flash flooding and widespread damage expected. The government and emergency services are working together to respond to the disaster, with medicine and supplies being dropped to affected areas and rescue efforts underway. The situation is still evolving, and communities are urged to remain vigilant to flooding and follow the latest warnings and updates from the Bureau of Meteorology. As the storm moves west across the week, it is expected to bring rain to areas still recovering from flooding, and the potential for the storm to redevelop into a cyclone if it reaches the waters off the north coast of Western Australia is a concern.