Tropical cyclone Penny has formed in the eastern Gulf of Carpentaria and is expected to cross the coast near Weipa this afternoon.
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A warning zone is in place from Pormpuraaw to Cape York, including adjacent inland areas.
Penny is a Category 1 cyclone with sustained winds near the centre of 75 kilometres per hour with wind gusts to 100 kilometres per hour.
As of 7.41am Tuesday it was estimated to be 110 kilometres west of Weipa and 115 kilometres northwest of Aurukun and moving east southeast at 8 kilometres per hour.
It should cross the coast near Weipa this afternoon as a category 1 system. The cyclone may reach category 2 if it moves slower than expected and spends more time over water.
Gales with peak gusts in excess of 90km/h, are occurring on the western Cape York Peninsula coast between Mapoon and Aurukun, and may extend to remaining areas between Cape York and Pormpuraaw later today. Isolated damaging wind gusts may occur otherwise with monsoonal thunderstorms over the Torres Strait Islands, and a separate Severe Weather Warning is current for these conditions.
Heavy rainfall which may lead to flash flooding, is likely across Cape York Peninsula and parts of the North Tropical Coast today and Wednesday.
Sadly none of the rain is forecast to hit the Mount Isa and Cloncurry region with sunny conditions for the next week and temps pushing 43 °C by Monday. Normanton and Burketown can expect a shower or two over the weekend.
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