World news – AU – More than 40000 people without electricity while the residents of Qld prepare for the tropical cyclone

Up to 40000 homes and businesses have been left without power due to warnings likely to form off the North Queensland coast due to high winds, heavy rain and unusually high tides

Power lines, trees and fences were torn down in Cairns on Monday as the tropical low intensified

Ergon Energy said crews were working under “challenging” conditions to troubleshoot outages in Far North Queensland that affected thousands of customers

“Wind and heavy rain have put trees and branches on power lines So be careful and be aware of this life-threatening danger, “it said

“Our crews will work as quickly as possible to restore the power supply However, we ask for your patience if they are delayed by circumstances beyond your control ”

Between Cape Flattery and Lucinda there is a tropical cyclone clock that extends to Mareeba and Atherton

The Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) said gusts of up to 100 km / h and heavy rainfall in coastal and island communities, including Cairns and Innisfail, are likely throughout Monday and Tuesday

An emergency alert has been issued for the residents of Palm Island, afflicted by violent winds and heavy rain

Residents are advised to cancel non-essential trips, secure their premises, find safe shelter and stay at home

According to the parts list, a tropical low is forming along the monsoon trough 200 km east of Innisfail, which is expected to intensify into a tropical cyclone by Tuesday morning

It is said that there are a number of scenarios for the cyclone to be called Niran, but direct coastal crossing is unlikely

Steve Smith, chief superintendent of fire and rescue services in Queensland, said confidence in cyclone formation is increasing

“The modeling at this point shows that it will reach category two with the potential to get a little stronger

“However, at this point it is still a little far off whether it will actually grow beyond that and strengthen”

QFES Commissioner Greg Leach said staff are positioned and ready to respond with pre-deployed fire and rescue services in Tully, Halifax and Ingham

The system is expected to stay offshore before tracking southeast later in the week

Cyclone Niran could drift close enough to coastal areas to bring storm winds, heavy rainfall, and unusually high tides to areas along the coast, according to the office

Storm warnings are current for Palm Island, Cairns, and Townsville waters, and strong wind warnings are in effect for Cooktown and Mackay waters

These high winds are likely to last all week as the system travels toward the southeast corner of the state

Showers and thunderstorms are increasing in the southeast, and there is a risk of severe thunderstorms in the southeast of inland on Monday and Tuesday

Ergon Energy