- Tropical Hurricane Jasper has touched down in far north Queensland, bringing with him strong winds and a lot of rain.
- The cyclone is causing damaging to destructive wind gusts along the far north Queensland coast.
- Overnight, as Jasper moves inland, its strength is predicted to decrease.
Tropical Hurricane Jasper has touched down in far north Queensland, bringing with him strong winds and a lot of rain. As it makes landfall near Wujal Wujal, which is just north of Cape Tribulation, the cyclone is causing damaging to destructive wind gusts along the far north Queensland coast.
People were advised to stay indoors until the cyclone passed and wait for further instructions for those living between Wujal Wujal and Innisfail, including Cairns.
Category 2 storm
Overnight, as Jasper moves inland, its strength is predicted to decrease. 120 requests for SES assistance were received, more than 17,000 homes and businesses lost power, and about 100 people went to evacuation centers.
Although Cyclone Jasper is getting stronger, it was not predicted by the Bureau of Meteorology to become a Category 3 system earlier on Wednesday.
There are sustained winds of 100 km/h near the center of the category 2 cyclone, with gusts reaching 140 km/h. Because it is too dangerous for emergency services to reach, people from Cape Flattery down to Cairns were advised to seek shelter.
From Tuesday afternoon through Wednesday midday, emergency services in the affected regions received over 120 calls for assistance; 93 individuals had already been placed in evacuation centers.
From Tuesday afternoon and Wednesday lunchtime, emergency services in the affected areas received over 120 calls for help, with 93 individuals already in evacuation centers. The system is currently expected to cross as a Category 2 system either late this afternoon or early this evening. Flash flooding, with totals of 250mm to 300mm in six hours, is the main concern for today.
The Atherton Tablelands, Chillagoe, Palmerville, and Cairns are included in the tropical cyclone warning that is in effect between Cape Melville and Cardwell, as well as for Innisfail.
Meteorologists are predicting heavy rains that “may lead to dangerous and life-threatening flash flooding” starting on Wednesday afternoon or evening along the coast and the nearby ranges between Cape Flattery and Port Douglas.
