Cyclone Koji downgraded to storm after crossing Australia’s north-east coast
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SYDNEY – Cyclone Koji crossed the far north-east coast of Australia on Jan 11 and was downgraded to a tropical storm, but the authorities warned of destructive winds and possible flooding.
Koji, a category one cyclone, crossed the coast between the towns of Ayr and Bowen in the state of Queensland, about 500km north of state capital Brisbane.
Koji has “weakened below tropical cyclone intensity”, the nation’s weather forecaster said on its website.
It said the system was now a tropical low, bringing wind gusts of up to 95kmh and heavy rainfall between the towns of Ayr and Mackay, a tourist hub and gateway to the Great Barrier Reef.
Premier David Crisafulli said the cyclone had already brought rainfall of up to 200mm to some areas overnight and was expected to result in heavy downpours over the next 24 to 48 hours.
“I do believe that people have prepared brilliantly for the rain that will come,” he said on social media platform X.
The weather forecaster predicted that Koji, after crossing the coast, would weaken rapidly but could still spark “dangerous and life-threatening flash flooding” between Ayr and Mackay, a tourist hub and gateway to the Great Barrier Reef.
Townsville Airport, which closed on Jan 10 as a precaution, said on Facebook that it planned to reopen on Jan 11 “if safety and weather conditions allow”.
Koji’s approach comes after the state was hit in March by Alfred, a downgraded tropical cyclone, that brought damaging winds and heavy rains, cutting power to hundreds of thousands. REUTERS
