Gulf conditions ripe for cyclone says WB

The prospect of a cyclone developing over the next few days has firmed as flooding increases across parts of western and northern Queensland.The weather bureau says a strong monsoon low is expected to form in the northern Gulf of Carpentaria today and will intensify over the coming days, bringing more rain to the region.Meteorologist Peter Otto says a cyclone could develop over the next few days."There is a low pressure system over land at the moment, but the monsoon flow to its north into the northern Gulf is looking like increasing during Friday and even further on Saturday," he said.Higher than normal tides and coastal flooding are expected along western Cape York."We are looking at heights that people may have experienced in several strong monsoons over the last few years," Mr Otto said."It is definitely just the western Cape at the moment - so between Torres Strait and Pormpuraam."The possibility that that low on the southern Gulf coast may linger into the Gulf of Carpentaria waters over the weekend and could develop into a cyclone is a possibility."

The State Government has activated a disaster coordination centre to manage relief assistance to 12 disaster declared areas in the state's north-west.The damage bill has risen to more than $21 million.The State Government has sent a helicopter from Townsville to Mount Isa to help deliver emergency supplies.It is also on standby to carry out any evacuations.Transport to the region remains limited after a maintenance train derailed near Cloncurry yesterday, while many roads remain cut by floodwaters.A number of rivers have broken their banks and rain continues today.The flooding rains in Queensland's central west could be worth millions of dollars to the state's agricultural industry.Winton Mayor Ed Warren says the region was facing extremely dry conditions as little as two weeks ago, with cattle having to be moved out of the shire."To have the shire sort of extinguished of the ravages of drought is something that we always look forward to and it appears, at this stage, that we've got a good season in front of us," he said.