Tropical Cyclone Owen is now tracking very close to the Northern Territory coast between Port Roper and Port McArthur with destructive winds in coastal parts close to the centre.
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Owen remains a Category 2, with winds near the centre of 110kph with wind gusts to 155kph.
The cyclone is currently moving west southwest at 10kph but is forecast to start moving eastwards back towards the Queensland coast during Thursday.
As it tracks east, it is likely to pass close to Port McArthur.
TC Owen may reach category 3 intensity during Thursday morning.
A coastal crossing along the southeast Gulf of Carpentaria coast between Karumba to Pormpuraaw later Friday is likely.
There is the chance it is a category 3 system when it crosses the coast.
The current warning zone stretches from Alyangula in the Northern Territory, to Burketown in Queensland, including Groote Eylandt, Borroloola, Mornington Island.
There is a watch zone further east from Burketown to Aurukun and inland areas including Pormpuraaw, Kowanyama and Karumba.
Flights have been affected across the region.
If Owen strengthens to Category 3 it could lead to very destructive winds with gusts of up to 170kph possible between Pormpuraaw and Karumba later on Friday.
Heavy rainfall which may lead to flash flooding, is likely to develop about the islands and coastal areas of the western and southern Gulf of Carpentaria during Thursday.
When the cyclone is close to the coast, a storm tide between Port Roper and Karumba may develop. Tides may rise significantly above the normal high tide, with damaging waves and minor flooding between Port Roper and Karumba. Tides will be higher than normal and large waves may produce minor flooding between Port Roper and Alyangula.
Derek Barry
Editor of the North West Star Mount Isa since January 2016. Prior to that, an editor at several regional southern Queensland newspapers. Passionate about telling local stories. Comes with a strange accent to due an Irish accident of birth.
Editor of the North West Star Mount Isa since January 2016. Prior to that, an editor at several regional southern Queensland newspapers. Passionate about telling local stories. Comes with a strange accent to due an Irish accident of birth.
