Sydney | A tropical cyclone strengthened on Wednesday as it headed toward northeastern Australia and authorities warned of a risk of flooding in areas along the coast.
Storm Jasper is expected to make landfall around 6pm on Wednesday (0800 GMT), but strong winds are already blowing in some towns.
According to the Queensland state government, around 8,000 households are already without power and major roads have been closed as a precaution.
According to meteorologists, Jasper is “strengthening” into a Category 2 storm as it gets closer to the continent.
Flash floods and wind gusts of up to 140 km/h are expected, said Laura Boekel, forecaster at the government's meteorological office.
“We have already started to see the impacts of this cyclone and they will only get worse as the day progresses,” she said.
Queensland Deputy Premier Steven Miles says “dangerous and potentially deadly” flooding could last “several days”.