Cyclone Jasper to hit Cairns with a chance of flooding

Cyclone Jasper is about to hit the city of Cairns in Queensland with a chance of possible flooding to cause landfall. It is predicted to strengthen more before making landfall in eastern Australia.

Jasper is about to make landfall as a category two system within days with parts of far north Queensland waiting for an important impact including potential flooding.

Cyclone Jasper is likely to reintensify before making landfall in eastern Australia 🇦🇺 #CycloneJasper #Jasper pic.twitter.com/ohO9M1q8h0
— DISASTER TRACKER (@DisasterTrackHQ) December 11, 2023

According to the Queensland Bureau of Meteorology, a tropical Jasper cyclone is in effect for parts of the north tropical coast of Queensland. A cyclone warning is now current between Cooktown and just north of Townsville.

⚠️🌀Tropical cyclone #warning continues between Cooktown and Townsville, and a Watch area extending north to Cape Melville and inland. Gales forecast to begin on Tuesday. Landfall on Wednesday between Cooktown and Innisfail. Details and updates: https://t.co/FBmpsInT9o pic.twitter.com/6wYALYDbTK
— Bureau of Meteorology, Queensland (@BOM_Qld) December 11, 2023

Cyclone Jasper to hit Cairns with a chance of flooding

Australian Bureau of Meteorology has issued the warning through the north tropical coast. It includes the towns of Port Douglas, Cairns, and Innisfail. The people living in these areas could experience wind gusts at or greater than 64km/h in the next 24 hours.

Severe Weather Update: Tropical cyclone warning current for parts of QLD north tropical coast. Video current: 11:30am AEST 11 December 2023. For the latest forecasts and warnings go to our website: https://t.co/4W35o8iFmh pic.twitter.com/Oop7YYNR3H
— Bureau of Meteorology, Australia (@BOM_au) December 11, 2023

Cyclone Jasper to make landfall

There are fears Cyclone Jasper could re-intensify in the coming days as it makes its way through the Coral Sea. The Cyclone is rapidly moving towards North Queensland’s coastline as a Category 1 system. There are concerns it could intensify back to a Category 2 system when it makes landfall between Cooktown and Cardwell on Wednesday.

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The Bureau issued its first cyclone watch on Sunday night with a warning of damaging winds, heavy rainfall, and a storm tide. Authorities fear Cairns could go underwater if Jasper strikes the city at the king tide predicted for Wednesday morning.

Emergency services are also planning various scenarios in case Jasper intensifies and impacts during King tides. It could result in catastrophic floods in the region. King tide refers to the highest predicted high tide of the year at a coastal location.

Cairns is the population center with over 150,000 persons in far north Queensland. It has not been directly hit by a tropical cyclone in nearly seven years.