The NT is expected to miss the worst of ex-Tropical Cyclone Jasper

Ex-Tropical Cyclone Jasper has battered Far North Queensland. Read what impact he will have on the Territory.

The Northern Territory looks set to avoid the worst of the wind and driving rain that ex-Tropical Cyclone Jasper has dumped on Far North Queensland over the past week.

Record rainfalls of more than a metre have left thousands without power and hundreds of people stranded in the cyclone zone.

Up to 300 rescues have been carried out north of Cairns, more than 1000 calls for assistance received and more than 10,000 people were without power at midday on Monday.

The Australian Defence Force will send additional troops to Townsville to assist with rescues and HMAS Cairns naval base is also assisting.

Flooding after cyclone Jasper at the airport on the northern side of Cairns. PIcture: Supplied Cockatours

But in the Territory, the prospect of a Christmas cyclone has receded with the Bureau of Meteorology now saying the likelihood of Jasper reforming as a cyclone has “decreased significantly”.

Senior meteorologist Billy Lynch said the Territory was out of danger.

“Ex-tropical cyclone Jasper has been slow-moving over far north Queensland over the past few days,” he said.

“It’s a slow-moving low creating a lot of heavy rainfall over Far North Queensland.

Up to a metre’s rain has fallen in some parts of Far North Queensland. Picture: Supplied Cockatours

“Over the next few days as the system weakens we’re predicting rainfall will continue easing across north Queensland in coming days.

“The chance of ex-tropical cyclone Jasper redeveloping into a tropical cyclone has decreased significantly since last week and now there is only a low risk of redevelopment in the next seven days.

“We are no longer expecting any impacts in the Northern Territory from this weather system.”

Last week forecasters were concerned Jasper would settle in the Gulf of Carpentaria, from where it could have potentially continued west over the Territory. Instead, it has stayed on the Queensland coast meaning the slow-moving system has dumped loads of rain.

“We’re all relieved because this time last week we thought this week would be quite busy for

the Northern Territory,” he said.

Originally published as The NT is expected to miss the worst of ex-Tropical Cyclone Jasper