Far North Queensland is set to be hit by a category three cyclone within hours, as weather experts warn locals to prepare for flash flooding.
Cyclone Niran is moving slowly north-east away from the coast, while damaging winds are expected to hit Cairns on Tuesday morning.
A tropical low approximately 215km east of Innisfail, south of Cairns, has triggered an urgent warning, with ferocious winds of up to 120km/h predicted by this afternoon.
Residents are advised to cancel non-essential travel, secure their premises, find a safe place to shelter and stay home.
More than 40,000 homes have already been left without electricity after high winds caused powerlines to fall.
Far North Queensland (pictured above) is on cyclone watch as a tropical low threatens the coast of Cairns
The wild weather has also forced 38 schools in Far North Queensland to close on Tuesday.
The Bureau of Meteorology says a tropical low is forming along the monsoon trough 200km east of Innisfail and is expected to intensify into a tropical cyclone by Tuesday morning.
It says there are a range of scenarios for the cyclone, to be called Niran, but a direct coastal crossing is unlikely.
Queensland Fire and Emergency Services Chief Superintendent Steve Smith said there is increasing confidence about the cyclone forming.
‘The intensity is forecasted to grow over the coming days,’ he said.
‘The modelling at this point is showing that it will reach a category two, with potential to become a bit stronger.
‘However, it is a little bit far out at this point as to whether it will actually grow and strengthen beyond that.’
Residents and guests in Port Douglas (pictured above) have been warned to expect cyclone conditions on Tuesday (stock image)
QFES Commissioner Greg Leach said personnel were positioned and ready to respond with pre-deployed fire and rescue services and swiftwater technicians at Tully, Halifax and Ingham.
The system is expected to remain off the coast before tracking southeast later in the week.
Cyclone Niran may drift close enough to coastal districts to bring gale force winds, heavy rainfall and abnormally high tides to areas along the coast, the bureau says.
Gale warnings are current for Palm Island, Cairns and Townsville waters, and strong wind warnings are in place for Cooktown and Mackay waters.
These strong winds are likely to continue throughout the week as the system tracks towards the southeast corner of the state.
Showers and thunderstorms are increasing for the southeast, with the risk of severe thunderstorms in the southeast interior on Monday and Tuesday.
Motorists have been also been advised to avoid parking their cars in low-lying tidal areas and to not drive through floodwaters.
Rainfall of up to 150mm has also been predicted in some areas, with Bureau of Meteorology expert Jackson Browne revealing flash and river flooding is likely over the next 48 hours.
‘Soils and catchments are already saturated after weeks of rain on the north tropical coast,’ he said. ‘Flooding could extend as far south as Mackay as the low strengthens.’
Forecast tracking have predicted the cyclone could reach a dangerous Category 2 by Wednesday.
The Queensland Bureau of Meterology (pictured above) showing a tropical low developing off the north tropical coast
Experts are also predicting rainfall of up to 150mm in some areas as well as flash flooding (stock image)
A tropical cyclone likely (pictured above) to likely to form around north Queensland on Tuesday
Huge swells are also predicted as the state of Queensland braces itself for some wild weather on Tuesday (stock image)
‘Gales are possible as the system reaches cyclone strength. Heavy rainfall is also likely,’ the forecast confirmed.
On Monday morning, commuters endured lengthy delays on the Captain Cook Highway driving south towards Cairns.
A number of trees fell across the Gillies Range Rd at Gadgarra in Queensland’s Tablelands Region, resulting in further delays after traffic was reduced to one lane.
Meteorologist Michael Gray revealed the extreme weather in far north Queensland was due to the development of a monsoon trough as well as a reach of high pressure along the east coast.
‘Since 9am on Saturday, we have seen rainfall totals up around 100mm around the Proserpine River and over 50mm through large parts of an area from about Mackay up towards Cairns,’ he told the Courier Mail.
‘We will still see fairly significant rainfall (from Mackay to Cairns) that will continue at least to Wednesday… or possibly through to later in the week.’
Across the rest of the eastern states of Australia, the forecast for Monday is partly cloudy and mostly sunny, with a slight chance of a shower tonight in Brisbane.