Nathan Eyes Australia With Flooding and Damaging Winds

By Eric Leister, Meteorologist

March 16,2015; 9:32PM,EDT

 

 

Tropical Cyclone Nathan brought flooding rainfall to northeastern Queensland, Australia, late last week but has since pulled away from the coast allowing for dry weather to return. However, later this week, Nathan will bring the return of heavy rain to northeastern Queensland threatening the region with another round of flooding.
After the most recent round of rain last week, many rivers in northeastern Queensland spilled out of their banks causing flooding when 245 mm (9.64 inches) of rain fell in just 24 hours in Weipa from Thursday into Friday.
Most flood water across the region has receded over the weekend, and according to the Australia Bureau of Meteorology, river gauges across eastern Queensland are below flood level.

Nathan is expected to move very slowly southward across the Coral Sea through the first half of the week. While moving over the warm water of the Coral Sea, Nathan is expected to gain strength equivalent to at least a Category 1 hurricane.
The concern comes during the second half of the week when the cyclone is expected to make a turn to the west and once again near the northeastern Australia coast bringing the threat for flooding rainfall.
RELATED:
AccuWeather.com Australian Weather Center
PHOTOS: Deadly Tropical Cyclone Pam Devastates Vanuatu
Detailed Forecast for Cairns, Queensland
As Nathan moves closer to the coast later in the week, flooding will threaten areas from Cairns to Mackay for a second time, depending on the exact track of the storm.
Even though river levels have fallen below flood stage, this renewed rainfall can cause rivers to rise quickly and overflow their banks once again.
Damaging winds are also a concern as Nathan is expected to move onshore this time, bringing the strongest winds with it, unlike last week when the strongest winds remained offshore.
Dangerous beach conditions will prevail along the northeast coast of Queensland all week as large swells and rip currents will increase as Nathan approaches.
Conditions will deteriorate Thursday into Friday rain from Nathan spreading over the Queensland coastline. Landfall will likely occur Thursday night into Friday between Innisfail and Cooktown.
Meteorologist Adam Douty contributed to this story.