We'll try that again, should we?

Cyclone expected to form tomorrow
March 01, 2007 05:04pm

A LOW pressure system off the eastern coast of Queensland will become a cyclone tomorrow, forecasters predict.

Senior forecaster with the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) Craig Mitchell said the system, which is currently in the Coral Sea to the north-east of Mackay, had lost speed today, but should intensify tomorrow. "The development has been slowed over the last 12 hours, but we're still anticipating that development will occur tomorrow with the possibility of a cyclone being named sometime during Friday," he said.

The cyclone will be named Odette if it develops.

Strong winds, big swells and flooding of low-lying coastal areas are expected and residents are being told to prepare.

Earlier this month, Cyclone Nelson – the first cyclone of the season – crossed north Queensland's Gulf of Carpentaria coast but caused little damage before dissipating.