Tropical Cyclone Narelle may now cross the Far North Queensland coast as a category five system, delivering wind gusts likely to top 250 kilometres per hour.
The storm is 440 kilometres east-north-east of Cooktown, travelling west-south-west at 22km/h.
Severe Tropical Cyclone Narelle live updates: For the latest news on the cyclone, read our blog.
Narelle is currently a category four system but is expected to intensify into a category five on Thursday evening before making landfall on Friday between Cooktown and the Lockhart River.
Wind direction and intensity of Tropical Cyclone Narelle. (Supplied: Nullschool; MIT Licence)
The Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) warns the system could bring very destructive wind gusts “in excess of 250km/h” to northern townships, along with heavy rainfall that could lead to flash flooding.
The weather bureau says it “remains to be seen” whether the cyclone will make landfall as a category five system or weaken to a category four by the time it reaches the coastline.
Those on the water are being told to expect hurricane-force winds, the most serious warning available, with winds above 64 knots, and the potential to create waves in coastal waters topping 11 metres.
A warning zone has been declared between Lockhart River and Cape Tribulation, and a watch zone extends across the Central Peninsula between Kowanyama and Weipa, along with adjacent inland areas.
Port Douglas is no longer included in the watch area.
Senior meteorologist Daniel Hayes said while cyclones could be unpredictable, forecasters expected Narelle to follow a clear path.
“We have a good degree of confidence about where it’s going to go,” he said.
“Fingers crossed we do see a little bit of a lessening of the impact before it makes its impact at the Coen township.”
Authorities are warning residents within the zone to urgently prepare their homes, boats and cyclone kits for the severe event.
Hurricane-force winds
Tropical Cyclone Narelle is the latest severe weather system to impact parts of Queensland in less than two months.
A hurricane-force wind warning has been issued for the Peninsula and Cooktown coasts, and a gale warning for the Cairns coast.
BOM has predicted heavy to locally intense rainfall to develop across the far north and north tropical coasts today, with wind gusts of up to 160km/h from Lockhart River to Cape Flattery.
Cooktown may also be forced to endure the high winds if the system’s path shifts slightly south.
Gale-force winds of up to 120km/h are also forecast.
This rainfall could lead to flash flooding between Cape Melville and Cape Tribulation.
Damaging waves and dangerous flooding are expected at Princess Charlotte Bay, with a “dangerous storm tide” likely as Narelle approaches.
As it crosses the Cape York Peninsula, Tropical Cyclone Narelle is predicted to weaken to category two strength before heading into the Gulf of Carpentaria, where it is expected to re-strengthen over warm waters.
It is predicted to make landfall for a second time in the Northern Territory over the weekend and possibly in Western Australia next week.
Western Cape York Peninsula towns, including Weipa, are expected to experience a category two system. (ABC Far North: Brendan Mounter)
‘Right up there with the worst’
In Cooktown, lure-shop owner and commander of the local coast guard, Russell Bowman, has been busy helping shift boats to safer waters.
About a dozen boats were moved further up the Endeavour River on Wednesday, with about 20 more still to go on Thursday.
“We’ve been through bad events before, but this is probably right up there with the worst we’ll be facing, hopefully in this lifetime,” he said.
Coastguard commander Russell Bowman fears Tropical Cyclone Narelle could be the worst storm his town ever faces. (ABC News: Christopher Testa)
Mr Bowman said the prospect of a category four cyclone was a nervy one, even for a town used to severe weather.
“A three is about the closest we’ve had, but not a direct hit,” he said.
Mr Bowman planned to spend the night on a coastguard boat as the cyclone hit.
“It’s a very sleepless night, and you just hope you don’t get that rogue log coming down the river, or a line snap, or someone else’s line snap,” he said.
“So much can go right, and there’s so much that can go wrong in a heartbeat.”
Remote communities band together
Towns have been evacuated, schools shut, and flights cancelled across the Cape York Peninsula as residents prepare.
The 200 residents of Coen, 550km north of Cairns, have been buying food and emergency supplies from the local store.
Residents in the Northern Cape region have been told to store water as the Coen water treatment plant will be shut down.
Residents of Cape York town Coen have made preparations for Tropical Cyclone Narelle. (ABC News: Casey Briggs)
“I’m quite nervous, a bit scared, a bit worried — worried about our old people, worried about our country,” Southern Kaanju, Ayapathu, Umpila and Lama Lama woman and Coen community leader Donna Creek said.
“Everybody is out and about, fuelling up their cars … fuelling up their generators, stocking up on all their emergency goods.”
Though the town is in a cyclone-prone region, Ms Creek said she was worried older homes might not withstand the gusts, which could be the most severe conditions experienced at Coen in many years.
“The elders were saying over 60 years ago, there was a big cyclone that actually did tremendous damage here in Coen,” Ms Creek said.
Coen Regional Aboriginal Corporation has provided locals with emergency packs that included torches, food and water ahead of the cyclone.
Several schools across the region have closed for Thursday and Friday, and airline Hinterland Aviation has cancelled flights to Coen and Lockhart River on Friday.
Cook Shire Council mayor Robyn Holmes says Port Stewart has been evacuated. (ABC News: Conor Byrne)
Cook Shire Council Mayor Robyn Holmes said community members were being encouraged to stay with relatives or attend the local wellbeing centre, as Coen did not have a cyclone shelter.
“The safest building there is the Community Wellbeing Centre,” she said.
“If anyone doesn’t feel safe, there will be provisions made.”
The coastal community of Port Stewart, which has fewer than 20 people, was evacuated on Wednesday, with residents taken to Coen.
“It’s not a huge community … but it doesn’t really matter, it’s still really important that they get treated equally,” Cr Holmes said.
Aurukun is on the western side of Cape York and can be cut off by road for several months during the wet season. (ABC News: Billy Cooper)
To the west, local leaders in the remote Cape York Peninsula town of Aurukun said the community was well prepared for the severe weather.
“We’ve got plenty of fuel, we’ve got plenty of food, we’ve purchased six new backup generators,” Aurukun Council chief executive Jack Dempsey said.