For the past few days, Australia’s Queensland has been witnessing the wrath of Cyclone Jasper. Tropical Disturbance 03F was first observed by the Australian Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) and the Fiji Meteorological Service (FMS) on Dec 2 in the South Pacific Ocean. Tourist towns in the northeast of Australia were warned to expect flash flooding on Thursday after Tropical Cyclone Jasper ripped through the area, toppling trees, knocking out electricity to tens of thousands, and requiring road closures and evacuations.
Cyclone Jasper In Queensland Australia
🌀 Cyclone Jasper is beginning its landfall. Stay safe, everyone!#CycloneJasper pic.twitter.com/duNwahY6LG
— Iyarkai (@iyarkai_earth) December 13, 2023
Jasper hit Queensland’s far north, where many resorts are located near the world-famous Great Barrier Reef, with gusts up to three times higher than the maximum dangerous wind speed on Wednesday. In its most recent update, Australia’s Bureau of Meteorology stated that the storm, which has been downgraded to a tropical low, was moving northwesterly into the Gulf of Carpentaria, where it may strengthen again to cyclonic strength over the weekend.
The weather service advised inhabitants in cyclone-affected areas that significant rain was expected there over the following 24 hours, despite the storm’s downgrade. According to Laura Boekel, senior forecaster at the Bureau of Meteorology, the situation is changing. The rain hasn’t stopped yet and is probably going to keep going long into this afternoon and evening.
Further, she stated that there’s a chance of up to 300 mm (a foot) of rain in some areas, which could lead to potentially fatal flash flooding. According to operator Ergon Energy, some 40,000 houses are without power. Watching on television, roadways were piled high with broken trees, and rescue workers were trying to clear the mess.
Also Read: Cyclone Michaung Updates: About 7 People Die Due To Heavy Rainfall In Chennai
Local media stated that eight persons who were stuck on a house’s roof were saved from a flooded street close to Port Douglas.
Ports Are Operational Again
Incredible flooding after Cyclone Jasper in northern Queensland, Australia (14.12.2023)
Video: Emma Boros Kidd pic.twitter.com/FKmfBwiEVI
— Jack Straw (@JackStr42679640) December 15, 2023
This past week, while the hurricane pounded the coast, several ports were closed or placed on alert. On Friday, December 15, the Maritime Safety Queensland dashboard shows that all ports are operational again.
Former Tropical Cyclone Late on Wednesday, December 13, Jasper touched down north of Cape Tribulation. As of Friday, December 15, the storm has been downgraded to a tropical low. The ports of Cairns, Mourilyan, Port Douglas, Cooktown, and Cape Flattery were all closed during the storm’s peak.
Thursday, December 14 at around noon saw the lowering of Port of Cairns from red alert to yellow alert due to certain power and service concerns reported by Ports North. For a while, the ports of Cape Flattery, Cooktown, and Mourilyan were all on red alert; however, by late Friday morning, December 15, all ports had reopened.
Ports North provided an update on Thursday afternoon, December 14, stating that employees who had not been “personally impacted” by the typhoon have resumed their jobs. The Queensland government announced on Friday morning that while the damage was still being assessed, immediate disaster assistance had been triggered for counter-disaster activities and the repair of vital public infrastructure.
Also Read: Cyclone Michaung: Schools & Colleges Shut, IMD Predicts Heavy Rain & More About Chennai
The situation in Queensland is still unknown and there is no clear information on Cyclone Jasper’s movement.
Cover Image Courtesy: Iyarkai/ X
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