Tropical Cyclone Ann is located over the Coral Sea and continues to churn westwards directly towards the northern Queensland coastline with landfall expected on Wednesday.

WeatherWatch.co.nz says Ann remains a Category 1 cyclone with low end damaging winds, heavy rain and dangerous seas.

The storm is tracking over warm waters which is keeping the system a technical tropical cyclone despite being two weeks after the cyclone season official finished o April 30. WeatherWatch.co.nz says Ann may track over slightly cooler waters shortly before landfall which may help reduce wind speeds.

Despite the storm likely to make landfall well north of Cairns, the city of Cairns may be facing 150mm of rain as the main bulk of rain moves in to that area. Meanwhile further north of the city and popular tourist beaches will be dealing with massive waves of 6 to 8 metres where the centre of Ann comes ashore over the next 24 to 30 hours.

WeatherWatch.co.nz says it all falls apart fairly fast as the low tracks westwards towards the Gulf of Carpentaria as a tropical depression. It may energise again back at sea but for now northern Queensland is the only focus for this cyclone.

 MAPS…

– Latest tracking map from BoM

– Temperature map shows Ann over warm waters, which fuel cyclones. However slightly cooler waters closer to land may see Ann lose cyclone status shortly before landfall…either way it’s pretty borderline.

– Longer range tracking by the US Government (JTWC)

– Rainfall expected by Ann, with the bulf of the heaviest rain falling in more populated areas. Flooding may be more of a problem than wind damage.

– Forecast wind speeds when Ann makes landfall on Wednesday well north of Cairns. Winds will be sustained around gale force.

– WeatherWatch.co.nz