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Tropical Low Forms over Gulf of Carpentaria

A Tropical Low formed over the Gulf of Carpentaria on Monday afternoon. At 1:00 p.m. EST on Monday the center of the Tropical Low was located at latitude 15.4°S and longitude 139.5°E which put it about 150 miles (240 km) west of Kowanyama, Australia. It was moving toward the east at 7 m.p.h. (11 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 25 m.p.h. (40 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 35 m.p.h. (55 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 1003 mb.

Watches were issued for the portion of the coast of Queensland from Aurukun to Karumba and for Mornington Island.

Thunderstorms formed near the center of a low pressure system over the southeastern Gulf of Carpentaria on Monday afternoon and the Australian Bureau of Meteorology designated the system as a Tropical Low. The circulation around the Tropical Low was still organizing. Thunderstorms continued to develop near the center of circulation. More thunderstorms were also forming in bands revolving around the center of the Tropical Low. Storms near the center of circulation began to generate upper level divergence which pumped mass away from the Tropical Low.

The Tropical Low will move through an environment favorable for intensification during the next 24 hours. The Tropical Low will move over water in the Gulf of Carpentaria where the Sea Surface Temperature is near 30°C. It will move under the center of an upper level ridge. The winds are weak near the center of the ridge and there will be little vertical wind shear. The Tropical Low will intensify during the next 24 hours and it could strengthen into the equivalent of a tropical storm.

The Tropical Low will move south of a high pressure system centered north of Australia during the next 24 hours. The high will steer the Tropical Low toward the east. On its anticipated track the Tropical Low could approach the southwest coast of Queensland in about 24 hours. The steering winds could weaken in a day or so and the Tropical Low could stall near the coast. Even if the center of the Tropical Low does not make landfall, bands in the eastern half of the circulation could drop heavy rain over parts of northern Queensland. Heavy rain could cause floods in some locations.