Thousands without electricity as Cyclone Niran tears across North Qld

• A slow-moving cyclone in North Queensland has knocked over power lines and cut electricity to around 40,000 homes from Cairns to the Cassowary Coast
• Cyclone Niran was declared a Category One system by the Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) this morning, with sustained winds of 85 kilometres near the centre and wind gusts of up to 120 kilometres per hour
• A warning has been issued from Cape Flattery to Mission Beach as dozens of schools across Queensland close while the wild weather rages
• The cyclone is expected to strengthen over the next few days, though at this stage the BoM expects it to remain mostly offshore
• Still, the cyclone has wiped out banana plantations across Innisfail and cut off some communities from the rest of Queensland due to flooded roads
• The impact the severe weather will have on local banana supply and the infrastructure damage caused by the cyclone is not yet known

A slow-moving cyclone in North Queensland has knocked over power lines and cut electricity to around 40,000 homes from Cairns to the Cassowary Coast.

A tropical low has caused wild weather off the coast of Cairns and was declared a Category One system by the Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) this morning.

Dubbed Cyclone Niran, the system has sustained winds of 85 kilometres per hour near the centre with wind gusts of up to 120 kilometres per hour, according to the BoM.

A warning has been issued from Cape Flattery to Mission Beach, with dozens of schools across North Queensland closed while the wild weather rages. Residents have been urged to take precautions and stay alert for further advice.

Tropical #CycloneNiran has developed NE of #Cairns this morning. The cyclone is moving slowly northeast, away from the coast, and is not expected to cross the coast. Heavy rain, gale winds and abnormally high tides possible. https://t.co/nKG7Lb7Bfh pic.twitter.com/y5Ul7x7KYQ

— Bureau of Meteorology, Queensland (@BOM_Qld) March 1, 2021

The BoM said the cyclone is expected to intensify over the next day or two, though the system is expected to remain off the north coast.

Still, according to an ABC report, BoM forecaster Rosa Hoff warned the cyclone could strengthen to a Category Three system later this week.

“Even though a direct coastal crossing is unlikely, we are seeing severe weather impacts out of the system already and we’re going to continue seeing them over the next few days before the system starts to retract further into the Coral Sea,” Rosa said.

Banana plantations across Innisfail have been wiped out by the severe weather, while heavy rainfall has flooded roads and cut off some communities from the rest of Queensland.

Queensland police have urged residents not to drive through flooded areas.

The impact the severe weather will have on local banana supply and the infrastructure damage caused by the cyclone is not yet known.