Severe cyclone likely to hit Qld this season, weather bureau warns

Queensland facing 'increased chance' of severe cylone and heatwaves, Bureau of Meteorology warnsTopic:WeatherPosted Tue 6 Oct 2026 at 1:26pmTue 6 Oct 2026 at 1:26pmTropical cyclone season typically runs from November to April. (Supplied: Suzanne Newman, file image)In shortThe Bureau of Meteorology has delivered its annual severe weather outlook for Queensland. The state is likely to be hit by at least one severe cyclone this season, according to the bureau.Heatwaves and lower than average rainfall are also expected in parts of the state.Queensland is likely to see a severe cyclone this season, fed by warmer sea temperatures off the Coral Sea, the weather bureau has warned. A severe cyclone is category 3 and above. One to two systems typically cross the coast each season in Queensland. Last season saw two category five systems, ex-Tropical Cyclone Narelle and ex-Tropical Cyclone Maila, in the Coral Sea for the first time since records began in 1970. Cyclones could also continue their move south, Bureau of Meteorology forecaster Laura Boekel said. Tropical Cyclone Alfred caused damage right along the Queensland coast in 2025. (ABC News: Tobias Loftus)"This season there is an increased chance of seeing a cyclone that is severe, with warmer sea surface temperatures forecast to develop over the coming months," she said. "The warmer the sea temperatures are, the more energy that the cyclones have to become more severe."The bureau is also predicting warmer than average temperatures across large parts of the state, as well as below average rainfall until December. "This will increase the chance of heatwaves occurring, and will increase their severity as well," Ms Boekel said. BOM forecasts unusually high temperatures for most of Australia from October to December. (Supplied: BOM)Meanwhile, dry conditions have led to an "incredibly busy start" to the bush fire season, with activity up 20 per cent on this time last year, according to Queensland Fire Department Commissioner Steve Smith."Since the first of September we've had almost 2,000 responses to bushfires," Mr Smith said. He said four years of good rainfall had led to an "incredible amount of fuel".Conditions are expected to deteriorate until forecast heavy rains later in the year. "We need people to understand that this season could be very significant, and to stay aware of the conditions around them," Commissioner Smith said. Smoke and flames rise up into the sky from a fire in Lowmead, Queensland (Supplied: Queensland Fire Department)