Damaging winds of up to 120 km/h are expected to develop between Cape Flattery and Townsville from this afternoon as Tropical Cyclone Jasper nears the coast.
The cyclone remains a category 1 system this morning but is expected to cross the coast as a category 2 on Wednesday, most likely between Cooktown and Innisfail.
The Bureau of Meteorology forecasts destructive winds of up to 140 km/h between Wujal Wujal and Innisfail from early Wednesday morning.
Gales with damaging winds of up to 120 km/h are expected to develop along the coast and adjacent ranges between Cape Flattery and Townsville from this afternoon.
These damaging winds are expected to extend inland to Palmerville and Chillagoe after the cyclone has crossed the coast on Wednesday.
A flood watch is current for the North Tropical Coast, parts of the Cape York Peninsula and Gulf Country and a storm tide is expected between Cooktown and Townsville on the high tides today and Wednesday..
Image at top of the page: The Cyclone Jasper forecast track map issued at 7.56 am today (December 12).