Queensland mines are on alert following a Bureau of Meteorology announcement that confirmed at Category one tropical cyclone will hit the coast on Monday.
Tropical Cyclone Kimi is likely to affect mining operations in North Queensland. Key mines likely to be affected by the cyclone’s path include Cape Flattery Silica and to a lesser extent Consolidated Tin Mines Mt Garnet inland operations.
Currently Tropical cyclone Kimi has sustained winds near the centre of 75 kilometres per hour with wind gusts to 100 kilometres per hour. At 4.00 pm AEST it is within 30 kilometres of 15.5 degrees South, 146.5 degrees East , 135 kilometres east of Cooktown and 175 kilometres north northeast of Cairns and moving south at 9 kilometres per hour.
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The Bureau of Meteorology confirmed with AMSJ that “Tropical cyclone Kimi has been moving slowly south through today, but is expected to turn more to the southwest tonight and cross the north tropical coast on Monday. The slow southward movement has delayed the expected crossing time to Monday afternoon. There remains considerable uncertaintly with the crossing time and location.”
The bureau expects that the tropical cyclone may “intensify further over the next 24 hours and may reach category 2 before crossing the coast line”
The weather bureau expects destructive wind with gusts to 130 km/h may develop about coastal and island areas between Cooktown and Innisfail on Monday as the core of the cyclone approaches. Gale force winds of up to 120 km/h also may develop about coastal and island areas between Cape Melville and Cardwell from early Monday morning.
“Gale force winds may extend inland to Palmerville and Chillagoe on Monday as the cyclone moves inland.”
The Bureau has forecasted heavy rainfall in the region between Cape Flattery and Cardwell from Sunday evening.
The 20/21 cyclone season has been complicated by a range of weather events for miners with significant incidents occurring at BHP Peak Downs mine and Manuka Resources being forced to temporarily shutdown as a result of severe weather.
AMSJ will continue mine alerts for tropical cyclone Kimi over the next day. Additional up to date information is available at the Bureau of Meteorology Site MetEye
Image: Bureau of Meteorology (supplied)
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