When Tropical Cyclone Kirrily is expected to make landfall in Queensland

Queensland is bracing for impact as Tropical Cyclone Kirrily reaches the far north of the state, bringing brutal rain, gale-force winds and wild gales.

The category one storm is expected to strengthen to category two before crossing the coast between Bowen and Ingham late on Thursday evening.

Kirrily is located approximately 420 km northeast of Townsville and 205 km northeast of Mackay and travels at an increased speed of 17 km/h.

The Whitsunday Islands are already being hit by gale-force winds, while strong gusts are expected to spread to the mainland, the Bureau of Meteorology says.

Wind gusts of 102 km/h were recorded on Hamilton Island at 4.32am on Thursday.

Strong winds of up to 140km/h have been forecast for coastal communities between Cardwell and Proserpine, including Townsville.

Townsville schools and businesses will be closed on Thursday as a quarter of a million Queenslanders prepare for Kirrily’s arrival.

Townsville Airport will be closed from midday as many tourists cancel their holidays to flood-ravaged far north Queensland.

Pictured is a satellite image of Cyclone Kirrily from the Japan Meteorological Agency

Hundreds of properties could be isolated for several days, with residents in Cungulla, Gumlow and Saunders Beach put on alert.

Police were seen going door to door in high-altitude areas to ensure residents were aware they could be cut off for several days.

Residents in far north Cardwell have already started to leave their homes due to the risk of power cuts during the sweltering hot days forecast for this weekend.

The official warning zone for the storm is limited to between Cardwell and Sarina, a 600 km stretch of coastline.

Residents of Townsville, Mackay, Bowen, the Whitsunday Islands and Charters Towers are expected to be hardest hit by the storm.

A storm surge is also expected to cause major damage between Townsville and Mackay, causing minor flooding on beaches in the area.

Hundreds of properties can be closed and isolated for days after heavy rain

The photo shows the forecast precipitation for the seven days ending Tuesday at 11 p.m

The Bureau of Meteorology provided this updated tracking map at 6.20am on Thursday

In the event of extreme flooding, additional fast water rescue boats will be on standby, deploying 54 interstate emergency services to Townsville.

State emergency coordinator Shane Chelepy said the slow-moving system, which previously traveled at just 4.5 mph, allowed the state to be prepared.

He said support teams had been strategically placed at flood zones.

Forecasters say intense rainfall that could cause “dangerous and life-threatening flash flooding” is possible after the cyclone crosses the coast.

The system is likely to weaken to a tropical low and move inland, bringing heavy rain to parts of central and western Queensland from Friday.

While the tropical low is no longer expected to move south, there could still be an “indirect impact” from the system in the southeastern part of the state, the agency said.

Queensland Premier Steven Miles has urged residents to think about what travel is necessary

The photo shows the tropical storm off the east coast of Australia on Thursday morning

“There are still areas in southern and southeastern Queensland that could see significant heavy rainfall this weekend,” a spokeswoman said.

“There is still a lot of moisture in the atmosphere and any showers or storm activity we see in south-east or central Queensland this long weekend could still bring heavy rain and flash flooding as a result of this tropical low.”

Meanwhile, Premier Steven Miles has urged Queenslanders to be prepared and consider what travel is necessary from Thursday and into the weekend.

“After the cyclone reaches the coast, it is likely to weaken to a tropical low, but will be associated with very high rainfall levels,” he said.

“Depending on the trajectory, the rainfall is likely to cause flooding in parts of the state.”

Kirrily is the second cyclone to threaten Queensland in a month, after Jasper, a Category 2 system, caused record flooding that devastated the far north.