A TROPICAL cyclone watch for Gulf communities has been cancelled after a low pressure system moved over land on the western Cape York Peninsula on Wednesday morning.
Communities between Aurukun and Karumba, including Mornington Island, Kowanyama and Pormpuraaw had been on high alert for the developing tropical low, which was expected to form into a cyclone on Thursday.
But the erratic system weakened as it moved over land and the Bureau of Meteorology said it was no longer expected to develop into a tropical cyclone.
"Although the low level centre may persist in the area or even drift back over the Gulf waters in the short term, the environment will not be supportive of tropical cyclone development," meteorologist Rosa Hoff said.
"In the longer term, it is increasingly likely that the system will track eastwards off the Peninsula and over the northern Coral Sea.
"The environment over the area is forecast to be favourable for intensification, however if the system does eventually develop into a tropical cyclone it is expected to be too far offshore to produce significant impacts along the Queensland east coast."
Widespread heavy rain, with six hourly totals between 140mm to 180mm, is likely in central parts of the Peninsula for Wednesday and Thursday.
The morning the heaviest rainfall is extending from Cape Keerweer to Archer River.
These bands should extend southeastward towards Palmerville and Laura later tonight and into Thursday.
Locations which may be affected include Coen, Aurukun, Palmerville, Musgrave and Laura.
The highest rainfall totals in the 24 hours to 9am was at Southwell Station, north of Kowanyama, where 240mm fell and 121mm was recorded at Aurukun.
