Nearly 40,000 properties are without power, roads have flooded and are strewn with debris in the wake of Tropical Cyclone Jasper.
Create a free account to read this article
or signup to continue reading
The category 2 system made landfall on the Far North Queensland coast near Wujal Wujal, 170km north of Cairns, about 8pm on December 13.
Rainfall totals nearing 400mm have been recorded along the coast near Port Douglas and Cairns, triggering a major flood warning for the Daintree River.
Overnight emergency services evacuated 12 people and a dog from a Mossman street after floodwaters rose rapidly with at least one house and multiple vehicles inundated.
Peak wind gusts up to 115kmh were recorded at Low Isles offshore of Port Douglas about 6.30am on December 14.
Residents in the Cairns region have been asked to conserve drinking water "as work to remove debris from water intake infrastructure" is carried out.
Power outages are affecting nearly 40,000 customers across Far North Queensland as the wind and falling trees brought down powerlines.
Electricity provider Ergon Energy said crews would be working to assess the damage where safe and gauge how long repairs could take.
"Until then, we won't have accurate restoration timeframes," Ergon Energy said in a post.
Authorities remain concerned about the risk of flash flooding with a flood watch in place for the North Tropical Coast, parts of the Cape York Peninsula and Gulf Country.
Jasper has been downgraded to a tropical low as it moves inland, tracking west towards the Gulf of Carpentaria.
Nearly 100 people were in evacuation centres in Edmonton and Cooktown as the community braced for the cyclone to make landfall on December 13.
Jasper was the first tropical cyclone of the 2023/24 season and its timing in December of an El Nino year is considered rare, Ms Boekel said.
The tropical cyclone season is from November to April.
Keep updated with severe weather and flood warnings at bom.gov.au/qld/warnings
- For cyclone preparedness and safety advice visit Queensland's disaster management services website disaster.qld.gov.au
- For emergency assistance call the Queensland State Emergency Service on 132 500, for assistance with storm damage, rising flood water, fallen trees on buildings or roof damage.
