Cyclone Kirrily reaches category two intensity as it nears Qld coast

Tropical Cyclone Kirrily has been upgraded to category two intensity as it draws nearer to Queensland’s coast. The system is expected to slowly and steadily intensify on its track towards the coastline. Landfall is expected on Thursday night between Ingham and Bowen, with Townsville facing the threat of a direct hit from a category two tropical cyclone. “As that system moves towards the coast, near the centre of that will see the heaviest amount of rainfall,” says the Bureau of Meteorology’s Laura Boekel. “But all communities within the current warning zone are at risk of seeing heavy rainfall, which can lead to flash flooding – we could see isolated totals of up to 300 millilitres as this system crosses the coast.”