SYDNEY: Cyclone Koji crossed the far northeast coast of Australia on Sunday (Jan 11) and was downgraded to a tropical storm, however authorities warned of damaging winds and attainable flooding.
Koji, a class one cyclone, crossed the coast between the cities of Ayr and Bowen within the state of Queensland, about 500km north of state capital Brisbane.
Koji has “weakened beneath tropical cyclone depth”, the nation’s climate forecaster stated on its web site.
It stated the system was now a tropical low, bringing wind gusts of as much as 95kmh and heavy rainfall between the cities of Ayr and Mackay, a vacationer hub and gateway to the Nice Barrier Reef.
Koji may nonetheless spark “harmful and life-threatening flash flooding” within the area, the climate bureau stated.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese stated Koji was “anticipated to convey giant quantities of rainfall to coastal areas of north Queensland and doubtlessly inland areas”.
“Flash flooding is a significant threat alongside a major stretch of Queensland’s coast,” Albanese stated in televised remarks.
Queensland state Premier David Crisafulli stated the cyclone had already introduced rainfall of as much as 200mm to some areas in a single day and was anticipated to end in heavy downpours over the subsequent 24 to 48 hours.
“I do imagine that folks have ready brilliantly for the rain that may come,” Crisafulli stated on social media platform X.
Townsville Airport, which closed on Saturday as a precaution, stated on Fb that it deliberate to reopen on Sunday “if security and climate situations enable”.
Koji’s method comes after the state was hit in March by Alfred, a downgraded tropical cyclone, introduced damaging winds and heavy rains, reducing energy to tons of of hundreds.
