Tropical Cyclone Jasper will batter Queensland's tourist towns on Wednesday as it slams into the mainland, bringing devastating winds of more than 160km/h.
Category 2 Jasper has been dubbed a 'Zombie Storm' by forecasters after it briefly weakened in strength before suddenly increasing in strength as it approached Australia.
The ship is expected to come ashore on Wednesday at 1 p.m half a meter of rain, damaging winds and a dangerous storm surge.
At least 15,000 homes in Cairns are at risk of flooding from storm surges, while Port Douglas has also been named a possible storm surge 'red zone'.
A storm surge or tide occurs when coastal waters rise above high tide level due to a cyclone, causing 'tsunami-like waves' to move inland.
Officials in Cairns have urged people living in the city's 'red zone' to leave immediately and move to higher ground.
'People in the red zone should immediately leave for higher areas. You may be in danger if the cyclone crosses. Immediately move to higher ground to stay with family or friends, away from peak red zone areas,” the Cairns Local Disaster Management Group said.
'Properties in the orange zone may experience flooding.'
Category Two Jasper has been dubbed a 'Zombie Storm' by forecasters after it briefly weakened in strength before suddenly intensifying as it approached Australia
At least 15,000 homes in Cairns are at risk of flooding from storm surges. The properties most at risk are in the red zone above
The storm could even become a category three system by the time it crosses the coast, the Bureau of Meteorology warned.
“If the system is slower and crosses Wednesday evening or early Thursday morning, there is a small chance it will intensify to Category 3 before crossing,” an agency spokesperson said.
Jasper is expected to continue heading towards the state's north coast for the remainder of Tuesday into Wednesday morning, before making landfall somewhere between Cooktown and Cairns on Wednesday around 1pm.
“Forecast models suggest Jasper will make landfall as a Category 2 system, bringing heavy rainfall, damaging winds and a storm surge as it crosses the coast,” said Weatherzone's Ben Domensino.
Rain should increase along the northern tropical coast and the Tablelands from Wednesday morning, extending further inland across the Cape York Peninsula on Wednesday and Thursday.
The storm could bring a total of 400 to 500 mm of rainfall per 24 hours, with six-hour rains reaching around 300 mm in some areas.
Damaging winds could develop between Cape Flattery and Lucinda as the storm approaches and crosses the coast on Wednesday.
Cairns residents have been urged to evacuate in an updated storm surge warning issued on Tuesday
Tropical Cyclone Jasper has been upgraded from a category one two to a category two cyclone
The strongest winds are likely to occur between Wujal Wujal and Innisfail, including Cairns.
Strong onshore winds combined with low atmospheric pressure will cause dangerous storm surges around high tide on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Evacuation centers have been set up across the region, with Deputy Prime Minister Steven Miles warning of a significant risk of flash flooding when Jasper makes landfall.
“It will then spread across the Cape and affect some of the most vulnerable communities in Queensland,” he said.
The cyclone is expected to make landfall somewhere between Cooktown and Cairns on Wednesday
Swiftwater rescue teams and additional police and force crews have been sent to the north of the state in anticipation of the wild weather.
Cairns hospital is also vulnerable, prompting plans to sandbag the facility and cancel its planned operation on Wednesday to free up beds.
A nearby elderly care facility may also be evacuated.
Cairns Airport remains operational, but a number of airlines have indicated that there will be schedule changes or flight cancellations.
Cairns District Acting Chief Disaster Inspector Sonia Smith has urged holidaymakers to travel north.
She urged motorists to stay aware of road closures and flash flood warnings.
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