Queensland authorities have warned people in the state's far north the threat from tropical cyclone Nora is not yet over, despite it weakening after crossing the coast early on Sunday morning.
The cyclone has been downgraded to a category 1 storm after crossing the western coast of Cape York early on Sunday and is expected to continue to weaken to a tropical low.
But a heavy rainfall and wind gust warning remains in place for far north inland Queensland, and the Bureau of Meteorology warns a cyclone could reform as it moves across the Gulf of Carpentaria.
There have been no reported deaths or injuries in the remote region.
"Thankfully everyone is safe at this time," Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk told reporters after a briefing on Sunday morning.
But authorities were quick to warn that Nora was still causing heavy rains and strong winds in the region, with six to eight inches of rain falling in the Hinchinbrook region.
The Bureau of Meteorology said gulf cyclones are very unpredictable and it could restrengthen as it moves towards the Northern Territory.
"The event isn't over, people still need to listen to authorities in those areas," Emergency Services Commissioner Katrina Carroll told the press conference.
Many roads were covered in water, with Commissioner Carroll reminding drivers "as always if it's flooded forget it".
An Ergon Energy spokesperson said the community of Pormpuraaw lost power on Sunday morning after being lashed by the cyclone with destructive winds pulling down power lines.
Ergon Energy crews flew in on Sunday and have started restoring power in the region.
Four schools will be closed tomorrow due to the damage including Pormpuraaw, Kowanyama, Karumba and Burketown.
The cyclone is tracking southwards over land near the western Cape York Peninsula coast and is located near Kowanyama, on the western side of Cape York.
Nora crossed the coast as a category 3 storm early on Sunday, bringing destructive winds and heavy rain.
But the Bureau of Meteorology downgraded the cyclone to a category 2 at 4am AEDT and category 1 later that day.
BoM regional director Bruce Gunn said the cyclone will downgrade to a tropical low on Monday but could restrengthen.
"There's a lot of uncertainty still around this forecast and some days to go before we can say a final farewell to Nora," he said.
The Queensland Disaster Management Committee met on Sunday morning to discuss the ongoing response.
SES leaders and extra police have been deployed to remote communities to assist but when Nora hits it will be too dangerous for anyone to be outside, he added.
Swift water rescue crews have also been stationed along the western Cape York coast.
Australian Associated Press
