Source: Bureau of Meteorology

Issued at 4:57 am EST on Sunday 11 January 2026
Headline:

Tropical Cyclone Koji to cross the coast between Ayr and Bowen this morning. Warning for Townsville is cancelled.
Areas Affected:
Warning Zone

Ayr to Mackay, including Whitsunday Islands, Bowen and Proserpine.
Watch Zone

None.
Cancelled Zone

Townsville.
Details of Tropical Cyclone Koji 12U at 4:00 am AEST:

Intensity: Category 1, sustained winds near the centre of 85 kilometres per hour with wind gusts to 120 kilometres per hour.

Location: within 55 kilometres of 19.0 degrees South 147.9 degrees East, estimated to be 120 kilometres east northeast of Townsville and 120 kilometres north northwest of Bowen.

Movement: south at 18 kilometres per hour.

Tropical Cyclone Koji (12U), category 1, lies east northeast of Townsville and moving south and will cross the coast between Ayr and Bowen in the next 3-5 hours. Strongest winds are occurring over Whitsunday Islands. After crossing it will weaken rapidly before tracking westwards. Heavy rain may persist through the region through Sunday and into Monday.
Hazards:

GALES with DAMAGING WIND GUSTS up to 120 km/h currently being observed through the Whitsunday Islands.

GALES with DAMAGING WIND GUSTS to 100 km/h may briefly extend to coastal areas between Ayr and Mackay and to adjacent inland areas during this morning as the system crosses the coast.

Gales are expected to ease rapidly once Koji crosses the coast and moves inland during Sunday.

HEAVY RAINFALL, which may lead to FLASH FLOODING, is forecast from Ingham to Proserpine. Locally INTENSE RAINFALL, which may lead to DANGEROUS AND LIFE-THREATENING FLASH FLOODING, is possible between Townsville and Proserpine, extending south to Mackay later today.

Tides are likely to be higher than normal between Cardwell and Mackay today but should not exceed the highest tide of the year.

A Severe Weather Warning is also current for heavy to locally intense rainfall and damaging winds about the northeast and central Queensland coasts. Flood Watches and Warnings are also current.
Recommended Action:

People between Townsville and Mackay, including Bowen, Proserpine and the Whitsunday Islands should take precautions and listen to the next advice.

- Stay informed by checking your local government s Disaster Dashboards for the latest updates.

- For cyclone preparedness and safety advice, visit the Get Ready Queensland website www.getready.qld.gov.au

IF YOUR LIFE IS IN DANGER PHONE TRIPLE ZERO (000) IMMEDIATELY. For non-life threatening emergency assistance contact State Emergency Services (SES) online via the SES Assistance QLD App (Apple, Android), online 132500.qld.gov.au, or call 132 500 from anywhere in Queensland.

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