North Queensland braces for rain, possible flooding as tropical low looms
Grey skies over the Cairns Esplanade are likely to continue. (ABC Far North: Conor Byrne)
In short:
The Bureau of Meteorology says a tropical low in the Coral Sea east-north-east of Cairns will bring severe weather to the mainland from today.
A cyclone watch from Cooktown to Palm Island has been cancelled with the weather bureau calling the tropical low off Queensland "disorganised".
What's next?
A severe weather warning has been issued for the far north Queensland Peninsula, North Tropical Coast and Tablelands due to heavy rain.
North Queensland is bracing for heavy rainfall and potential flash flooding as disorganised tropical low 29U approaches the mainland.
The system in the Coral Sea, 360 kilometres east-north-east of Cairns, is expected to make landfall over Queensland's North Tropical Coast on Friday.
The Bureau of Meteorology cancelled its cyclone watch and issued a severe weather warning for Far North Queensland districts for Thursday.
Rain is expected to increase on the north tropical coast from Thursday. (Supplied: Sangeetha Badya)
"The risk of it becoming a tropical cyclone is reducing the further we head into today," meteorologist Harry Clark said.
"We are still expecting a period of severe weather, particularly in those areas north of Ingham, even more so most likely north of Cairns over the course of today."
A severe weather warning issued by the bureau warns six-hourly rainfall totals between 80 and 160 millimetres are expected on the Daintree coast.
The warning said 24-hourly rainfall totals of 350mm were possible before rainfall was expected to extend inland.
The tropical low is moving at a typical speed toward the Queensland coast. (ABC Far North: Conor Byrne)
The bureau said the system would likely make landfall south of Ingham on Friday afternoon but said the heaviest rain would remain north of the system.
Tides are likely to be higher than normal between Port Douglas and Ingham but were not expected to exceed the highest tide of the year.
Emergency services on stand-by
Sandbagging stations have been made available in Cairns. (ABC Far North: Conor Byrne)
The Queensland Fire Department has deployed staff to the region ahead of the tropical low.
State coordinator Rob Boniwell said five swift water rescue teams had been positioned between Cooktown and Ingham, "right the way along that eastern coastline to ensure we've got a good spread of response capability".
Chief Superintendent Boniwell said it was likely an additional five crews would be positioned as far south as Gladstone, as well as at inland locations such as Quilpie.
"It's really necessary for us to target and position our resources where they're most needed," he said.
Cairns residents Elijah Raymond and Angus Caeli are not very concerned about the chance of a cyclone. (ABC Far North: Conor Byrne)
No worries about wet weather
Dark clouds have rolled in over Cairns but the wet season weather has not stopped people from spending time outdoors.
Trinity Beach resident Elijah Raymond said he was not concerned.
"We don't mind a bit of rain. It's the far north. It'll dry off eventually,"he said.
"As long as we can go fishing, we're all good."
Deb Bowen is visiting her former home, Cairns, from Brisbane and is hoping to return before the low reaches the coast. (ABC Far North: Conor Byrne)
Visitor Deb Bowen said it was wise for locals to prepare their homes, but she was not worried.
"I think they need to be informed," she said.
"I'm staying in a motel, so I've got nothing to prepare."