Overview

Tropical Cyclone Kirrily began as a low-pressure system in the Coral Sea on 17 January. It became a tropical cyclone on 24 January, bringing strong winds to the Whitsunday Islands and coastal areas between Townsville and St Lawrence in Queensland.

The cyclone crossed the coast just north of Townsville at about 10:00 pm on 25 January as a Category 1 system. After landfall, it weakened but continued moving slowly across central and western Queensland.

Between 26 and 31 January, the system brought steady rain, with daily falls up to 100 mm and heavier falls in some areas. In early February, the system moved north and then interacted with another weather system, leading to more heavy rain and flooding across large parts of Queensland.

Response

• Public warnings: Authorities warned communities to prepare, stock emergency kits, and reconsider travel plans.
• Emergency services:The Queensland State Emergency Service (SES) completed 681 jobs across the state with 13 swift-water rescues were carried out in flooded areas in Moreton Bay.
• Monitoring and safety actions: Water and sewer systems were closely monitored. Emergency plans were activated for several dams as water levels rose.
• Evacuations: People in towns such as Kynuna and Warra were evacuated before flooding worsened.
• Support services: The Red Cross ran the Register.Find.Reunite service, with 163 people registering.

Impacts

Strong winds and heavy rain: Winds reached up to 120 km/h in coastal areas. Over 300 mm of rain fell in southeast Queensland between 29 and 30 January. A wind gust of 102 km/h was recorded at Mornington Island.

Flooding: Flash flooding hit southeast Queensland, flooding homes and streets. Long-lasting flooding affected western Queensland and the Channel Country, covering large areas of land.

Damage and disruption: Roads were cut off and some rail lines were affected. More than 66,000 homes and businesses lost power.

Community impacts: Some homes were flooded, especially in southeast Queensland. A total of 41 local government areas received disaster assistance.

Size of the event: The impacts were felt across a large part of Queensland, from the far northwest to the southeast.