100% Locally Owned, Independent and Free

100% Locally Owned, Independent and Free

Cyclone Jasper set to weaken before intensifying again as it swings towards coast

Do you have a news tip? Click here to send to our news team.

Proposed sport complex could create 300 jobs by 2027

More details about a proposed sport and recreation centre that could attract about 350,000 visitors each year have been revealed. Plans for the facility, which More

Brewing company expands with new waterside venue

A Sunshine Coast craft brewer combining its beer with food has opened in a third location. The Moffat Beach Brewing Co has pulled off a More

Work to start on key section of foreshore amid $13m boost

A revamp of a well-known beachside area is about to get underway, bolstered by a $13.3 million funding injection. Minor construction works for Stage 2 More

Mum accused of poisoning baby in $60k social media scam

A mother has been accused of giving unnecessary prescription medicines to a one-year-old girl to grow her social media profile and gain $60,000 in More

Sami Muirhead: murder most foul on the jetty

After a recent visit to K’gari (Fraser Island), I have decided to rename the jetty at Kingfisher Bay ‘The Murder Jetty’. If you have been More

Cliff repair works to start after landslip

A section of cliff face will be repaired and stabilised after a landslip at a beach town three years ago. The works are set to More

Severe tropical cyclone Jasper has started to move towards the Australian coast and is tipped to make landfall in the middle of next week, bringing destructive winds and heavy rain.

As of Saturday afternoon, the category four system was in the Coral Sea about 1000km east of Cairns and had started to swing towards northern Queensland.

Earlier in the day, a rescue helicopter safely evacuated four Bureau of Meteorology scientists from a remote weather station on Willis Island in the path of the wild weather, about 450km off Cairns.

The forecast map of Tropical Cyclone Jasper’s path. Picture: Bureau of Meteorology

The cyclone is tipped to weaken to a category two system on Monday but may then intensify again on Wednesday as it approaches the coast, according to senior meteorologist Angus Hines.

He said it was likely to cross somewhere between Townsville and Cooktown but other scenarios were still possible including a crossing further north.

“Wherever Jasper crosses it will be a significant weather event likely to bring damaging to destructive winds, heavy persistent rain that will lead to flooding, a storm surge along the coast and very dangerous conditions out over the water with large waves,” Mr Hines said.

Queensland Police Acting Deputy Commissioner Shane Chelepy warned households north of Mackay to prepare their emergency kits.

The state disaster centre has moved to alert level, with local and district co-ordinators from Mackay to Cairns making preparations.

Queensland Fire and Emergency Services crews, including swift water rescue teams, are also primed to be deployed to cyclone-hit areas.

The system is the first tropical cyclone to form in Queensland waters in December in an El Nino year, which generally leads to fewer such weather events.

Want more free local news? Follow Sunshine Coast News on Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram.

Subscribe to SCN’s free daily news email

Hidden
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
[scn_go_back_button] Return Home
Share