Australia Weather News

A low off Queensland's Cape York Peninsula is now unlikely to form into a cyclone but is still predicted to bring heavy rainfall to the region, the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) says.

The system — that was to be called Lucas — was expected to intensify into a category one or two system and cross the coast near Pormpuraaw late today or tomorrow morning.

At 10:00am, the BOM said the slow-moving system was no longer expected to develop into a tropical cyclone, however, issued a severe weather warning for heavy rainfall and flash flooding in the area.

Southwell Station, north of Kowanyama, has already recorded 240 millimetres in the past 24 hours and Aurukun has received 121 millimetres.

The BOM said six-hourly falls of between 140mm and 180mm were expected in some parts today and tomorrow morning.

Michael Rowland from the Weipa Town Authority said weather conditions in the coastal mining town of 4,000 people were "unstable".

"We are getting intermittent showers, then quite heavy downpours, but an hour or so ago we had blue skies," Mr Rowland said.

"We're all just watching and waiting."

He said the town was well prepared for any weather event.

"We start our preparations back in September because we know the potential of cyclones," he said.

"We have a big clean up around the town, we get all our drains cleaned up and we start getting the message through to people to be prepared."

Queensland State Emergency Service regional director Wayne Coutts said SES crews would be flown into the area if necessary.

"There's certainly plenty of rain but it does get quite wet normally in the wet season and there was really good preparations before TC Imogen so generally the people and the community are all ready to roll," Mr Coutts said.

ABC