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Tropical Cyclone Niran has been upgraded to a category two system as it moves northeast from off the coast of Cairns, with wind gusts reaching 130km/h and heavy rain causing floods and blackouts for tens of thousands.
The cyclone may reach category three late on Wednesday, according to the Bureau of Meteorology, with sustained winds of 95km/h.
North Queensland residents were told to brace for possible gale force winds and heavy rainfall over the coming days.
A warning zone is current from Cape Melville to Lucinda.
As of 10pm Tuesday, the cyclone was 295 kilometres east northeast of Cooktown on the Cape York Peninsula, and tracking northeast.
The bureau said the cyclone may cause gales about the exposed coastal and island communities on Wednesday night or early Thursday.
From Thursday onwards, the cyclone is expected to take a southeasterly track, away from the coast.
“Tropical cyclone Niran is expected to remain slow-moving off the north Queensland coast while gradually intensifying over the next two days,” the BOM said.
A coastal crossing by the core of the cyclone is not expected.
Heavy rainfall has eased along the north tropical coast, but could redevelop.
The Bureau has issued a flood watch and several warnings along the north coast between Cooktown and Rollingstone, and said gales with gusts to 100km/h may occur about exposed coastal and island communities between Cape Melville and Lucinda on Wednesday night or early Thursday.
Residents were told to consider what action they will need to take if the cyclone threat increases.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said she had met with the Bureau and the State Disaster Coordinator on Tuesday.
“There is a major flood warning for the Herbert River… But north Queenslanders have dealt with heavy rain and cyclones before, they know what they’re doing,” she said.
“If it’s flooded, forget it.”
Crews worked through Tuesday morning to fix power lines, after 31,000 Cairns customers were left without electricity.
Ms Palaszczuk said seven state schools and 32 Catholic and independent schools had been closed on Tuesday.
She reminded Queenslanders to continue to get updates from the Bureau.
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