Tiffany approaching Northern Queensland

Courtesy Australia Bureau of Meteorology

Tropical Cyclone Tiffany has formed over the northwest Coral Sea and is tracking westward toward the Cape York Peninsula. Some strengthening is possible and it can be a strong tropical storm or minimal Category 1 hurricane equivalent on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale before making landfall Monday night, local time.

Tiffany is expected to produce rainfall of 2-4 inches (50-100 mm) with an AccuWeather Local StormMax™ of 7 inches (175 mm) across the Cape York Peninsula through Tuesday, local time. This rain can result in areas of flooding across the region. Widespread wind gusts of 40-60 mph (65-95 km/h) are possible across the region later Monday into Tuesday, local time, with an AccuWeather Local StormMax™ of 80 mph (135 km/h) near landfall in the eastern Cape York Peninsula. These winds can lead to some damage and scattered power outages.

Tiffany is expected to enter the Gulf of Carpentaria late Tuesday and can regain some strength over open water before reaching the Northern Territory coast Wednesday night or early Thursday, local time. Heavy rainfall and gusty winds are possible over northern Northern Territory late in the week. Areas of flooding, travel disruptions and scattered power outages are possible.

To the east, a tropical rainstorm is west-southwest of Fiji and is expected to become a tropical cyclone in the next day or two. Movement will remain slow and erratic into Tuesday before starting on a southeasterly track by Wednesday, local time. This rainstorm will likely bring heavy rain, the risk of flooding and gusty winds to Fiji into Tuesday or Wednesday, local time.