Category 1 cyclone Tasha passed south of Cairns in the early hours of Xmas day. Cyclones affect Cairns and surround on a regular basis, fortunately this one was relatively mild, but brought plenty of rain, with 279mm recorded in Goldsborough Valley overnight.
Read more about Cairns Cyclones and Cairns Weather.
Weakening Tasha offers brief respite
Updated
Rising floodwaters are predicted across the state in the coming days. (Western Downs Council)
Authorities are urging motorists to avoid road travel as much as possible in northern Queensland due to flooding from ex tropical cyclone Tasha, despite an easing of the conditions in the state.
The category one system crossed the coast just south of Cairns about 5.30am this morning, but has now weakened into a monsoonal low.
Flash flooding is still predicted in some areas, but Wayne Coutts from Queensland's Emergency Management says conditions are easing.
"There's been flash flooding occurring for the last few hours and probably I'm hoping right at the moment we're on the cusp of the downfall of the rain. So the SES groups are reporting that it's not as heavy," he said.
But Emergency Management Queensland says flooding is the biggest concern for authorities over the next few days with between 100 and 200 mm of rain expected to cause more flooding.
Queensland's Emergency Services Minister, Neil Roberts, says about 2,000 people are affected by power blackouts and the SES is responding to more than 140 calls for help.
"Thankfully there have been no reports of injury, but we have had reports of house damage to at least one home in the mission beach area however," he said.
"There is still heavy rain in the area, lots of roads cut and we expect the rain to continue particularly in the far north over the next few days, and increasing at the system moves into the south-west in the southern parts of Queensland in the next few days as well."
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