Cyclone Jasper makes landfall, packing 140km/h winds, knocking out power to 31k properties
One in four properties are blacked out and major flood warnings are in place after ex-tropical cyclone Jasper dumped as much as half-a-metre of rain.
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Emergency alerts have gone out to people in Kuranda, Myola, Koah and Speewah in the Mareeba Shire Council area.
“A dangerous flood is happening now in low-lying areas near the Barron River, Clohesy River, Groves Creek and associated tributaries,” the alert said.
“Council advises residents to move to higher ground and avoid floodwater.
“Conditions are changing quickly and are very dangerous.”
Those in the Cairns area have also been asked to conserve drinking water as work begins to remove debris from water intake infrastructure across the region.
“Assessments of the intake at Crystal Cascades, which supplies the water treatment plant at Tunnel Hill, are being undertaken to assess the blockage,” the council alert said.
“To conserve the existing water supplies stored in reservoirs, residents and businesses are requested to use water for essential use only. Water from the reservoirs is safe to drink and does not need to be boiled.”
The council said the need to conserve water was likely to remain in place until at least the end of the week.
Meanwhile, disaster recovery funding has been made available for North Queenslanders and Cairns, Cook, Douglas, Yarrabah and Wujal Wujal regional councils.
Deputy Premier Steven Miles said residents living in Douglas and Wujal Wujal can now also access personal hardship assistance totalling $180 for individuals and up to $900 for families of five or more.
“To cover the cost of essentials like food, clothing and medicine,” he said.
“Uninsured residents may also be able to access up to $5,000 to reconnect damage services like electricity, gas and water.”
Mr Miles said Queensland was “not out of the woods yet” and financial support would be expanded to other impacted areas as events continued to unfold.
“There are about 40,000 homes and businesses without power,” he said.
“There are significant energy crews on the ground and Energy Queensland are sending additional crews from Townsville.
“Many of the traffic signals and lights are out and we just urge people to take caution on the roads.
“If you don’t need to leave your home, please stay inside.”
Cairns Mayor Terry James said Ex-Tropical Cyclone Jasper did not create “too much damage,” with some trees down and power outages.
“We’re used to that, we practice for that,” he said.
“Now we’re going to wait and see how much water we get.
Mayor James said the dam had filled 2.5m in just 24-hours.
“That’s a lot of water,” he said.
Copperlode Dam has been impacted by debris, with residents asked to start preserving water.
“It’s hard to believe that our intake is blocked up there at the moment with the amount of debris that come over the dam, so we’re asking people to conserve water, when there’s a lot of water coming out of the sky,” Mr James said.
Queensland Fire and Emergency Service damage assessment teams had conducted 236 assessments since 6am Thursday, which identified just ten minor damage sites and eight moderate damaged sites.
Further flooding is expected around Daintree today with the river expected to reach 9m.
There have been no significant reports of damage so far on Thursday.
Those who do need support are encouraged to call the recovery hotline on 1800 173 349.
Tourists have been told to stay away from North Queensland until flood waters recede.
“But today’s probably a good time to start Googling to think about what a holiday in the far north of our state could look like,” Mr Miles said.
Cairns, Trinity Beach and Palm Cove have reported incidents of looting overnight, which Mr Miles said was “disturbing”.
“This is certainly not the time to take advantage of those who are vulnerable and suffering from the impacts of the cyclone.”
Commissioner Carroll warned looters that “there is CCTV footage often”.
“You should be expected to be found to be dealt with,” she said.
Mayor James revealed the Cairns council emergency disaster dashboard had 1.2 million hits.
“So people have been listening,” he said.
“And they did listen because last night, for example, we had next to no phone calls at the disaster centre.”
“Far North Queensland volunteers have been bolstered by almost 100 SES personnel deployed from across Queensland,” a QFES spokesman said.
“Crews have been strategically located in the areas most at need and are working through taskings as quickly and safely as they can.”
The emergency alerts come as firefighters had rescued 18 people from a Far North Queensland town early Thursday morning as the full force of a category 2 cyclone was realised.
Crews were called to Mossman St at Mossman, near Port Douglas, about 12.40am where 18 people needed to be evacuated due to dangerous flash flooding.
The group, from separate addresses, were taken to an evacuation centre at the local library.
Jasper was downgraded to a tropical low late on Thursday but it was a wild night with as much as half a metre of water dumped in some places and heavy rain and potentially damaging winds still an issue. One in four properties in the affected region are without electricity.
After an emergency meeting this morning, Treasurer Cameron Dick said Jasper’s “tail is lingering over the Coral Sea”.
“This event is not over,” he said.
“We have seen 24 hour rainfall totals of about half a metre across Far North Queensland – that is a very large volume of water.”
Mr Dick said 40,000 homes and businesses in Far North Queensland were without power and that the Captain Cook Highway was cut between Cairns and Port Douglas.
Authorities are now concerned that Mossman’s water supply may be compromised, with the
Douglas Shire Council urging residents to conserve water.
“There’s a possible leak to Mossman’s water supply,” an alert to the community said.
“Please use water sparingly while we identify the problem.”
Senior Meteorologist Laura Boekel said wind speeds had reached up to 115km/hr.
“We have seen widespread rainfall from this system so a lot of catchments and locations have seen over 200mm”.
She said rainfall totals of between 115 and 200 mmm were still possible today while 24-hour rainfall totals could reach 300mm today.
“If we see these fall in a short period of time, intense rainfall within a short period of time, that’s when we can see that dangerous and life-threatening flooding,” she said.
Queensland Police State Disaster Coordinator Shane Chelepy said there had been no reports of serious injury but warned that people should still listen to warnings from emergency services.
Energy Minister Mick de Brenni said one in four premises were without power because of debris bringing down powerlines.
He said restoration would begin soon, with “critical community assets” the first to be reconnected. The timing would “depend on where your home or business is”.
“This will be a significant task for the Ergon team,” he said. “Stay away from fallen powerlines.”
Cairns Airport has resumed operations, with multiple flights scheduled to depart and arrive throughout the day.
A spokeswoman said the airport would be operating as usual however asked customers to check their specific flight numbers for any cancellations or delays
Flood warnings are in place, with major flooding expected along the Daintree River. It is currently 7.55m and rising and is expected to reach the major flood level of 9m this morning.
Rainfall totals of up to 390mm have been recorded in the Daintree and Mossman River catchments in the 24 hours to 5am, with 315mm of this falling in 12 hours.
More isolated events include 470mm recorded at Yandill in the 24 hours until 3am. There was 389mm of rain in the 24 hours to 4.30am at Daintree Village and 370mm at Myola.
The Bureau has warned there have been significant river level rises in the Mossman River which is expected to reach levels similar to the January 2019 floods.
Residents in Port Douglas began assessing the damage at first light, with the holiday town escaping largely unscathed but with a big clean-up required to clear fallen trees and debris.
In the main street, a large tree toppled has come down, and branches are down across most roads.
Torrential rain is slowly filling culverts and drains.
Some locals braved the wet to take their dogs for a walk after a long day and night spent inside waiting for Jasper to pass.
Trees and signs had already been felled by high winds before people were forced inside on Wednesday afternoon but Jasper’s full wrath will not be known until later this morning.
Wujal Wujal mayor Bradley Creek said there had been no damage reported.
There were fears for the Indigenous community that was expected to be directly in Jasper’s firing line, however Mr Creek said the worst of wind and rain had been to the south.
“The community is good and everyone is just relieved,” he said.
“They’re all happy now.”
Mr Creek said there was no interruption to the town’s power supply with both electricity and phone services still working.
“We’re in a valley with hills around so (the town) is well protected.”
Cook Shire Mayor Peter Scott said the effects of Cyclone Jasper in his community had been “very mild”.
“We got some nice rain overnight, nice gentle rain, not heavy at all,” he said.
“The wind I don’t think got over 40kmh.”
Mr Scott said life had resumed as normal in Cooktown today.
“We are cut off from Cairns because of the continual rain south of us and there’s a couple of river crossings that will keep us out of action for a day or two,” he said.
“But aside from that things are back to normal here.
“There has been no damage, no requests for assistance.”
He said he was impressed with the disaster management response that saw resources deployed to the region, including support staff, police, SES, ambulance officers and energy crews.
“That has given me an awful lot of comfort regarding the new organisation around disaster management led by the Queensland Police,” he said.
“The structure, the protocol system is a well-oiled machine as far as I’m concerned.”
A severe weather warning remains in place across Far North Queensland, with 90km/h wind gusts still possible along the coast, extending inland to the Atherton Tableland and as far as Chillagoe on Thursday morning.
Heavy rain which may lead to dangerous and life-threatening flash flooding is still developing between Cooktown and Cairns.
Residents from Cooktown to Port Douglas were overnight warned to prepare for flash flooding to begin overnight, with the slow-moving system dumping inches of rain.
Police began ordering people off the streets and emergency alerts went out by midafternoon urging people in the firing line to take shelter in the strongest area of their home.
About 31,000 homes and businesses were without power and the State Emergency Service received more than 120 calls for help hours before the eye of the cyclone reached land.
People in the storm’s path were being warned not to be fooled by the calm conditions inside the cyclone’s 70km-wide eye, which was expected to take hours to cross over some areas.
“The eye is really big,” Bureau of Meteorology forecaster Patch Clapp said on Wednesday night.
“There’s a period of calm conditions, a lull, in the eye itself.
“But you can’t pick that time period, so keep sheltering. Wait for the whole system to pass.”
Jasper was moving slowly at just 9km/h on Wednesday evening as it made landfall near Wujal Wujal and Cape Tribulation, with the bureau expecting the system to take days to move across Queensland.
The cyclone was producing wind gusts reaching 140km/h, with centre wind speeds of 100km/h.
The weather bureau reported at 11pm it had weakened to a category 1 system but was still packing damaging wind gusts.
Low Isles recorded 115km/h wind gusts on Wednesday as Jasper passed, with destructive gusts expected to reach 140km/h in Wujal Wujal, Cape Tribulation, Thornton, Cow Bay, Daintree, Wonga Beach, Rocky Point, Newell, Cooya Beach and Port Douglas overnight.
Damaging wind gusts reaching 120km/h were likely to affect all areas south of Cooktown to Cairns.
Life-threatening flash flooding is also forecast to follow in Jasper’s wake in areas between Cooktown and Port Douglas.
Mr Clapp warned residents beyond the immediate warning zone that dangerous winds and heavy rainfall would remain for the next two to three days as Jasper crosses the peninsula.
“Really heavy totals are coming tonight and tomorrow,” he said.
“It will take quite a while to go out to sea.
“At this stage we’re not expecting it to be out at Gulf waters until Saturday. It’s going to be relatively slow moving.”
Authorities were on standby to work around the clock to restore power to the tens of thousands of homes and clear fallen debris.
Ergon Energy crews were due to kick into action as soon as the danger of the storm had passed, making powerlines safe and assessing damage to the Far North’s power network.
Crews will begin repairs from first light on Thursday, if it is safe to do so.
People were reminded to stay well away from any fallen powerlines.
With the threat of storm surge past, the Cairns Local Disaster Management Group is keeping a watchful eye on river and creek heights and rainfall totals, with another 70-150mm of rain forecast to fall on Thursday, and more on Friday.
Deputy Premier Steven Miles travelled to Townsville on Wednesday to wait out the cyclone, with plans to head further north once the worst of the weather had passed.
Roads in Port Douglas were littered with fallen trees and debris, and by 3pm police were urging people still outside to take shelter.
Wujal Wujal Aboriginal Shire Council Mayor Bradley Creek last night had an anxious wait ahead – anticipating not only the arrival of Cyclone Jasper but also his second child who is due to be born any day.
Mr Creek said the wind and rain had started to intensify from Wednesday afternoon.
“I think people are probably starting to feel a bit wary now,” he said.
“But the community is well prepared and ready to see what Cyclone Jasper brings.”
Cook Shire Mayor Peter Scott said it was surprisingly quiet in Cooktown as Jasper approached the Far North Queensland coast on Wednesday afternoon.
He said Cyclone Ita in 2014 had helped prepare the community for what was to come.
“It tested out our cyclone shelter and after that we did some modifications like strengthening the debris screens and moving generators inside, he said.
Mr Scott said that by lunchtime on Wednesday, only about five people and a blue heeler cattle dog were taking advantage of the shelter.
He said the community had plenty of notice to prepare and extra resources had been deployed to the area, including police officers, SES staff and extra generators.
“So we’ve got tons of support and we’re very lucky in that regard,” he said.
In Port Douglas on Wednesday morning, residents took advantage of Jasper’s later-than-anticipated arrival, going for one last walk, stopping to see the usually calm Four Mile Beach being smashed by waves.
Among them was Andy Ulwand, who is no stranger to cyclones having lived in Far North Queensland for 20 years.
His eldest daughter was born in the Cairns Base Hospital during Tropical Cyclone Larry.
“It’s been stressful getting everything packed away,” he said.
“It’s just a waiting game now; everything is inside, the windows are taped up, but it’s going to be a long day.”
Mr Ulwand said whatever Jasper delivered, the community would come together to recover.
“You’ve got to check on your neighbours and friends, everyone looks out for each other,” he said.
One yachtsman checking on his boat moored in the protection of a creek said it was a “small mercy” the storm arrived later in the day.
The man said that if the cyclone had arrived at high tide as first forecast, along with the tidal surge, the damage would be much worse.
“That’s just part and parcel of life in North Queensland, though,” he said.
Jan Macgregor moved to Port Douglas from Melbourne just one month ago and was anxiously awaiting Jasper’s arrival.
“We’re used to the weather changing in Melbourne but nothing like this,” she said.
“We’re in an apartment so we’ll be fine as long as we have Netflix and then once the Wi-Fi goes down, which I’m sure will happen at some point, my Kindle is fully charged.”
Ms Macgregor said it was unusual to see waves near the Port Douglas Sugar Wharf, where the beach had already started to erode by early Wednesday.
“It’s a little bit scary,” she said.
“I really hope there’s not too much damage.
“You can’t be complacent about it.
“Most of our friends up here seem pretty relaxed.”
Meanwhile, in the Northern Beaches of Cairns, a boat sitting on the bottom of a marina sank due to Cyclone Jasper.
Ryan and Karen Moody were down at Bluewater Marina in Trinity Park to check on their own fishing vessel when they saw the 35-odd footer sitting on the sea floor with the top of its bow and canopy poking above the water.
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