Severe Tropical Cyclone Maila threatens Far North Queensland after Cyclone Narelle
Consensus Summary
Severe Tropical Cyclone Maila is a category 3 storm currently in the Solomon Sea with a high likelihood of crossing Cape York Peninsula around Sunday. The Bureau of Meteorology predicts it could intensify to a category 4 system before landfall, posing risks of sustained winds up to 199 km/h and heavy rainfall. This follows Cyclone Narelle, which devastated Far North Queensland, the Northern Territory, and Western Australia just weeks ago, marking the first storm to cross all three regions in 21 years. While confidence is growing that Maila will impact Cape York, uncertainty remains about its exact path, with potential to strike Cairns, Townsville, or even miss the coast entirely. Southern and Central Queensland will experience above-average temperatures and dry conditions, contrasting with the stormâs potential chaos in the north. Meteorologists warn the warm ocean waters from Narelle are still fueling Maila, increasing its potential intensity. The last April cyclone to hit Queensland was Severe Tropical Cyclone Ita in 2014, highlighting the rarity of such late-season storms.
â Verified by 2+ sources
Key details reported by multiple sources:
- Severe Tropical Cyclone Maila is a category 3 storm as of Monday (ABC, NEWSCOMAU, GUARDIAN)
- Maila is located in the Solomon Sea, approximately 590â970 km west of Honiara (ABC: 970 km east of Port Moresby; GUARDIAN: 590 km west of Honiara; NEWSCOMAU: between Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands)
- The Bureau of Meteorology predicts Maila will likely cross Cape York Peninsula around Sunday (ABC, NEWSCOMAU, GUARDIAN)
- Maila could intensify into a category 4 system before landfall (ABC, GUARDIAN)
- Cyclone Narelle made landfall in Cape York on March 20 as a category 4 storm (NEWSCOMAU, GUARDIAN)
- Queenslandâs cyclone season runs from November 1 to April 30 (ABC)
- The last April cyclone to cross Queenslandâs coast was Severe Tropical Cyclone Ita in 2014 (ABC, GUARDIAN)
- Mailaâs winds at the centre are currently 130â150 km/h with gusts up to 185â205 km/h (ABC: 150 km/h sustained, 205 km/h gusts; GUARDIAN: 130 km/h sustained, 185 km/h gusts)
- Southern and Central Queensland will experience above-average temperatures this week (ABC, NEWSCOMAU)
- Maila was named on Saturday night (NEWSCOMAU, GUARDIAN)
Points of Difference
Details reported by only one source:
- Senior meteorologist Ilana Cherny stated Maila would 'most likely' move across Cape York Peninsula around Sunday before bringing rainfall to inland Queensland (ABC)
- Cherny mentioned the Solomon Islands had issued warnings for widespread heavy rain, storms, and possible gale-force winds (ABC)
- Cherny advised Queenslanders to check updated track maps daily as the forecast would be refined (ABC)
- Cherny noted the system could be downgraded and mentioned the next Australian cyclone would be named Owen (ABC)
- Cherny said coastal showers would occur over the next few days but inland would remain dry (ABC)
- Badwen Gilbert stated there is increasing confidence Maila will head toward Far North Queensland this weekend (NEWSCOMAU)
- Gilbert warned locals could face winds of 95 km/h at the centre and gusts of up to 130 km/h if it makes landfall (NEWSCOMAU)
- Narelle traveled over 5700 km since forming near the Solomons and crossed the Pilbara coast as a category 3 system (NEWSCOMAU)
- Narelle caused 350 mm of rainfall in the Pilbara and damaged Chevron and Woodside facilities (NEWSCOMAU)
- Southern and Central Queensland will have rain-free conditions with temperatures 8â10 degrees above average in towns like Roma and Charleville (NEWSCOMAU)
- Helen Reid stated the storm could swing south and hit Cairns or Townsvilleâor miss the coast entirely (GUARDIAN)
- Reid mentioned Maila could cross the coast as a category 4 cyclone with sustained winds of 160â199 km/h (GUARDIAN)
- Reid noted the warm seas from Narelle were still feeding Maila, as it hadnât had time to cool down (GUARDIAN)
- Narelle was the strongest storm of the season so far and made landfall twice more in the Northern Territory and Western Australia (GUARDIAN)
Contradictions
Conflicting information between sources:
- ABC states Maila is 970 km east of Port Moresby, while GUARDIAN states it is 590 km west of Honiara (both in Solomon Sea region)
- ABC reports Mailaâs sustained winds at 150 km/h with gusts of 205 km/h, while GUARDIAN reports 130 km/h sustained and 185 km/h gusts
- NEWSCOMAU states Maila could bring winds of 95 km/h at the centre with gusts of 130 km/h, while ABC and GUARDIAN report higher sustained winds (130â150 km/h)
- ABC mentions Maila could be downgraded, while GUARDIAN emphasizes the possibility of it remaining a category 4 system at landfall
- NEWSCOMAU states Narelle crossed the Pilbara coast as a category 3 system, while GUARDIAN does not specify the category at that stage
Source Articles
Tropical Cyclone Maila likely to cross Far North Queensland
The Bureau of Meteorology is increasingly confident the system will move towards the Queensland coast later in the week, potentially crossing Cape York Peninsula....
Severe Tropical Cyclone Maila on track to hit far north Queensland three weeks after Narelle tore through
While path and strength of storm remain uncertain, BoM warns Cape York could again take direct hit if cyclone makes landfall Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast Another cyclon...
Second cyclone in weeks threatens Aus
Aussies are yet again bracing for a potential cyclone just weeks after Tropical Cyclone Narelle smashed towns in three states....