SEVERE Tropical cyclone Owen is located over the south western Gulf of Carpentaria, and is expected to continue to move generally eastwards through today.
According to the Bureau of Meteorology, conditions are favourable for a further intensification of the storm.
“The cyclone is likely to make landfall as a severe tropical cyclone about the southeast Gulf on late Friday or early Saturday, before tracking down the northeast coast as a deep tropical low pressure system over the weekend,” BOM says.
“Deep tropical moisture is likely to remain in place to the east of a surface trough moving slowly eastwards across the central and eastern state over the next coming days, likely combining with a significant upper trough developing over eastern Australia to lead to showers and thunderstorms over much of the state, shifting to central and eastern districts late in the week.”
BOM computer modeling shows little rain over inland areas on Monday or Tuesday.
