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The weather system made landfall northeast of Coen at around 8 a.m. local time (9 a.m. AEDT), initiating its journey westward across the Cape York Peninsula.
Forecasts indicated that the system would weaken to a Category 2 storm by Friday afternoon. It was expected to move through the communities of Weipa and Aurukun before heading into the Gulf of Carpentaria.
Residents in the Northern Territory were advised to remain vigilant, as the storm was predicted to gain strength over the water and potentially make landfall late Saturday.
In the affected areas, rainfall exceeded 100mm in just 24 hours, with some locations experiencing up to four times that amount as the cyclone unleashed heavy downpours.
The Bureau of Meteorology issued a flood watch for North Queensland on Friday, extending across the entire peninsula from the Herbert River through the numerous rivers, creeks, and streams in the Cape region.
There were no reports of fatalities or serious injury, according to the Queensland Ambulance Service.
Hundreds of homes were without power, particularly in Coen and Lockhart River, where authorities warned of fallen powerlines.
A strong storm surge pushed waves onto paths and coastal roads as far south as Cairns, dragging trees, paths and benches into the ocean.
Emergency crews took to the streets as soon as it was safe to begin the clean up, but many roads have been cut by floodwater and fallen trees.
Northern Territory next in firing line
The Bureau predicts the cyclone will reach the east coast of the top end of the Northern Territory, north of Groote Island as a category 3 tropical cyclone on Saturday.
The potential for flooding across the Northern Territory will be greatest on Sunday, when the cyclone further downgrades to an eventual low pressure system.
Meteorologist Angus Hines said this means more heavy rain for areas already impacted by significant flooding in recent weeks.
“We could see rainfall in excess of 100 to 200mm along the path of that tropical cyclone, stretching from Alyangula on the east coast to the Katherine area, and out to Wadeye on the western side of the Top End,” Hines said.
“These rainfall numbers are significant, with isolated values above that during Sunday and into early Monday morning, and are likely to lead to renewed river rises across the top end, including the potential for renewed major flooding around Katherine and Beswick, and prolonged major flooding around the Daly River.”
Heavy rain and strong winds will then reach the northern Kimberley, Kalumburu and areas north of Kununurra early next week.
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