Severe Tropical Cyclone Maila Forecast to Cross Far North Queensland Early Next Week
Severe Tropical Cyclone Maila is slowly moving toward the Queensland coast, with forecasters warning the powerful system could make landfall early next week.
As of Thursday, April 9, 2026, Maila is a Category 3 system with sustained winds near the center of 185 km/h and gusts reaching up to 230 km/h. It is currently located in the Solomon Sea, approximately 1,370 kilometres northeast of Cairns.
While the system has stalled recently, it is expected to begin a more defined west-to-southwesterly track toward the Australian mainland within the next 24 hours.
Path and Timing Still Uncertain
Senior meteorologist Jonathan How noted that while the system moved very little over Wednesday night, steering currents are expected to strengthen.
The Track: Maila is forecast to pass close to the Louisiade Archipelago in Papua New Guinea on Friday, April 10, before entering the Coral Sea over the weekend.
Landfall: Most models suggest the system will approach the Far North Queensland coast on Sunday or Monday, with a potential crossing on Tuesday, April 14.
Intensity: Forecasters expect Maila to fluctuate in strength as it interacts with cooler waters left in the wake of previous storms. It is currently predicted to approach the coast as a Category 2 or 3 system.
Weather Update on Severe Tropical #CycloneMaila.
— Bureau of Meteorology, Australia (@BOM_au) April 9, 2026
Video current: 1pm AEST Thursday 9 April 2026.
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Communities Urged to Prepare
The current high-risk zone for landfall lies between Cooktown and Lockhart River. However, given the “considerable spread” in current modeling, residents as far south as Port Douglas and as far north as the Tip are being told to finalize their emergency kits.
“Maila’s exact path, timing, and strength will be influenced by a number of factors before then,” How said. This is the second major threat to the region in weeks, following the impacts of Cyclone Narelle in March.
Another Cyclone Affecting the Region
The warning comes as a separate system, Severe Tropical Cyclone Vaianu, continues to move through the South Pacific. Having already impacted Fiji with heavy rain and flooding, Vaianu is currently tracking south at 19 km/h.
It is expected to transition into an extra-tropical system before reaching New Zealand’s North Island this weekend, bringing a risk of damaging winds and hazardous coastal conditions to the region.
