Powerful Ului Poses Threat to Queensland

Mar 18, 2010; 7:00 AM ET
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Tropical Cyclone Ului has continued to slowly weaken over the open Coral Sea on Friday as it makes ready for a late-week landfall upon northeastern Australia.

As of Friday morning, EDT, the storm held highest sustained winds of about 75 mph, or those of a Category 1 hurricane, as it drifted over open seas well south of the western Solomon Islands.

Ului will accelerate towards the southwest and the west on Friday.

Landfall is now forecast to happen on Saturday or Saturday night, EDT, between Mackay and Cairns, Queensland, Australia, possibly at the city of Townsville.

Flooding rain along and near the direct path of Ului will rank as the greatest threat to life and property. Damaging winds will also be a threat.

Ulia formed one week ago and quickly became a severe, potentially catastrophic Category 5 during the weekend.

At that time, highest sustained winds were reckoned by the Joint Typhoon Warning Center to be at least 160 mph, or above the 156-mph threshold for Category 5 status. Luckily, the storm's severe wind and rain steered clear of land.

By Accuweather.com Senior Meteorologist Jim Andrews.

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