North battens down as Cyclone Jasper smashes into Far North Queensland coast

The Bureau of Meteorology has upgraded the cyclone as it rages past the coast of Far North Queensland and leaves thousands without power.

Children watch the storm roll in at Holloways Beach, north of Cairns. Picture: AFP

Tropical Cyclone Jasper has crossed the Queensland coastline, with residents in Cairns and surrounding areas urged to take shelter immediately.

Far north Queensland was battered by destructive wind and rain on Wednesday, but authorities have warned, the worst is yet to come.

The Bureau of Meteorology has confirmed the storm intensified to Category Two on Wednesday afternoon, a few hours before its landfall.

Latest updates showed the Cyclone hitting the Queensland coast, near Wujal Wujal, north of Port Douglas, about 4pm.

TC Jasper will be the first storm of that size to hit the region since 1997 when Cyclone Justin crossed the coast of Cairns as a category two system.

The storm peaked at Category Three and took the life of seven people in Queensland, including five on yacht that sank.

An Emergency Alert has been issued for Cairns from the Cairns Disaster Management Group, where residents are being urged to “take shelter now”.

“Residents are advised to take shelter now in the strongest part of the building they are in,” the warning read.

“Go to the strongest, safest part of the building you are in. This will be away from big windows. It could be a bathroom, walk-in wardrobe, or hallway. Stay there.”

“Emergency services cannot get to you because it is too dangerous.”

EMERGENCY ALERT for CAIRNS as at 1.30pm Wed 13 Dec: https://t.co/nGCequfDAu

— Qld Fire & Emergency (@QldFES) December 13, 2023

Another emergency notice for Douglas Shire was issued at 2pm, warning that destructive winds were likely in the next six to 12 hours.

The alert urged people in the area to immediately take shelter in the strongest part of the building they were in.

Gale force winds have already been recorded in several areas, including 93 km/hr near Low Isles, 82 km/hr in Cairns, 48 km/hr in Innisfail and 66km/h at Lucinda.

Senior meteorologist for the Bureau of Meteorology Laura Boekel said the worst was yet to come during a press conference in Brisbane.

“Impacts will get worse as we move through the day today,” Laura Boekel said.

Cairns mayor Terry James said he no longer believed Cairns was at risk of storm surge flooding after the king tide passed on Wednesday morning without issue.

“We want people just to be vigilant,” Mr James told Sky News Australia ahead of the storm’s arrival.

“Cyclones can change their mind at moment’s notice, so be prepared.”

Cairns Mayor Terry James gives an update on conditions as Tropical Cyclone Jasper heads towards the Far North Queensland coast. Picture: Brendan Radke

On Tuesday the council issued a “leave now” warning to residents living in storm surge red zones throughout the city, but downgraded the message a few hours later.

Latest Bureau of Meteorology advice has the Cyclone hitting the Queensland coast, near Wujal Wujal, north of Port Douglas, about 5pm.

Ms Boekel said the major risk on Wednesday was “dangerous and life threatening” flash flooding.

Six-hour rainfall totals between 250-300mm and 24-hour totals reaching 400-500mm were forecast for areas in the cyclone impact zone.

“There’s also a risk of riverine flooding as well as storm surge as we see the high tide at Cairns at 10am,” Boekel said.

More than 17,000 North Queensland households were without power 3pm.

Ergon Energy said customers in Cairns were hit hardest, with the area reporting more than 8,300 outages.

Deputy Police Commissioner Disaster Coordinator Shane Chelepy asked those feeling unsafe to head to an evacuation centre early to avoid putting first responders at risk.

“The next 24 hours will be critical, so we do want to minimise both the movement on foot and on road.”