Australia: Tropical Cyclone Trevor forms, on track to target northern Queensland this week
Newly formed Tropical Cyclone Trevor is expected to take aim and bring dangers to the Cape York Peninsula in northern Queensland, Australia, this week.
While drenching and locally severe thunderstorms dominated weather headlines in southeastern Queensland and eastern New South Wales this past weekend, attention will turn toward Tropical Cyclone Trevor in the northern Coral Sea.
Trevor was officially named as a Category 1 tropical cyclone early on Monday morning. Trevor's strength is equivalent to a tropical storm in the Atlantic and northern Pacific oceans.
On Saturday, flooding and mudslides in Indonesia's Papua province, which borders Papua New Guinea, was partially fueled by the developing cyclone.
"Trevor will continue to drift slowly to the southwest across the Coral Sea through the beginning of the week," said AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Adam Douty.
An ultimate track into and across the Cape York Peninsula is anticipated.
The storm is expected to bring heavy rain and flooding to a swath of the Cape York Peninsula.
Torrential rainfall of 125-250 mm (5-10 inches) can lead to significant flash flooding, including along northern portions of Queensland State Route 81 (Peninsula Development Road).
"Wind damage may also be a concern where Trevor ultimately moves inland," Douty added. "Current indications point toward landfall being in the northern Cape York Peninsula, possibly near Kutini-Payamu National Park."
The cyclone may ultimately strengthen into a Category 2 cyclone (equivalent to a tropical storm in the Atlantic and eastern Pacific Oceans) before making landfall.
Seas will build across the northern Coral Sea as Trevor strengthens. The stronger the cyclone, the more dangerous conditions will be for boaters and swimmers.
Beyond affecting the Cape York Peninsula, Trevor is expected to then enter the Gulf of Carpentaria before targeting the Northern Territory with flooding rain and strong winds late in the week or the coming weekend.
There is the potential for Trevor to strengthen significantly once in the Gulf of Carpentaria, possibly into a Category 3 or 4 cyclone (equivalent to a Category 2 or 3 hurricane).
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