Tropical Cyclone Tiffany Brings Wind and Rain to Northern Queensland

Tropical Cyclone Tiffany brought wind and rain to northern Queensland on Sunday night. At 10:00 p.m. EST on Sunday the center of Tropical Cyclone Tiffany was located at latitude 14.3°S and longitude 144.0°E which put it about 70 miles (110 km) east-southeast of Coen, Australia. Tiffany was moving toward the west-southwest at 8 m.p.h. (13 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 65 m.p.h. (105 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 80 m.p.h. (130 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 987 mb.

Warnings were in effect for the east coast of the Cape York Peninsula from Lockhart River to Cape Flattery and for the west coast of the Cape York Peninsula from Weipa to Kowanyama. A Watch was issued for the west coast of the Gulf of Carpentaria from Nhulunbuy to the border between the Northern Territory and Queensland. The Watch included Groote Eylandt.

The center of Tropical Cyclone Tiffany made landfall on the east coast of Queensland east-southeast of Coen on Sunday night. Tiffany was the equivalent of a strong tropical storm at the time of landfall. Bands of showers and thunderstorms in the western half of Tiffany’s circulation brought gusty winds to northern Queensland. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 70 miles (110 km) from the center of circulation. Tropical Cyclone Tiffany was also dropping locally heavy rain over parts of northern Queensland. A Minor Flood Warning was issued for the Daintree River and a Flood Warning was issued for the Mossman River.

Tropical Cyclone Tiffany will move around the northern side of a high pressure system over Australia. The high pressure system will steer Tiffany toward the west during the next several days. On its anticipated track Tropical Cyclone Tiffany will move across the Cape York Peninsula during the next 18 hours. Tiffany will weaken while it moves over land. In 18 hours the center of Tropical Cyclone Tiffany will move over the Gulf of Carpentaria. The Sea Surface Temperatures are near 31˚C in the Gulf of Carpentaria. So, Tiffany could strengthen when it moves back over water. An upper level ridge over Australia will produce easterly winds that will blow toward the top of Tiffany’s circulation. Those winds will cause vertical wind shear and they will inhibit intensification, but Tropical Cyclone Tiffany is forecast to intensify after it moves over the Gulf of Carpentaria.

Elsewhere over the South Pacific Ocean, Tropical Cyclone Cody was located southwest of Fiji. At 10:00 p.m. EST on Sunday the center of Tropical Cyclone 05P was located at latitude 20.1°S and longitude 176.1°E which put it about 150 miles (240 km) west-southwest of Tavuki, Fiji. Cody was moving toward the west-southwest at 5 m.p.h. (8 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 45 m.p.h. (75 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 60 m.p.h. (95 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 994 mb.