Australia Weather News

Tropical Cyclone Trevor is expected to intensify to a category three system before it crosses Queensland's Cape York Peninsula on Tuesday night.

The Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) said the cyclone was now a category two, and was rapidly intensifying into a category 3 as it moved towards the Far North Queensland coast.

BOM senior forecaster Gabriel Branescu said the system was expected to cross the coast south of Lockhart River as a category three cyclone on Tuesday.

"The system is forecast to bring destructive winds to eastern parts of the peninsula as it makes landfall during Tuesday evening, with wind gusts above 125km per hour," Ms Branescu said.

"Also the system is forecast to bring abnormal high tides on Tuesday morning and Wednesday morning over parts of the eastern peninsula, and also heavy rainfall (and) possible flash flooding.

"As a result we have a flood watch in place extending from Cairns to Kowanyama."

Mr Branescu said rainfall totals of between 200 and 400 millimetres were expected over coming days in areas between Cairns and Cooktown.

He said Cyclone Trevor was expected to head towards the Northern Territory after crossing the Cape before heading out to sea.

"From [the] Gulf of Carpentaria the system is forecast to move towards [the] south-west, and forecast to re-intensify and reach category-one cyclone strength again during Thursday."

Storms hit south-east Queensland

After a weekend deluge across much of south-east Queensland, more rain and storms lashed south-east Queensland on Monday afternoon.

Strong winds, heavy rain and hail hit some areas with more than 6,200 Energex customers losing power.

Northgate and Toowong were the worst affected Brisbane suburbs, with some localised flooding.

Queensland police advised drivers that Gap Creek Road in the city's west was cut due to excessive water.

City Train services were also disrupted with 30-minute delays on all lines.

Most areas in the region exceeded their average March rainfall totals over the weekend, with parts of the Sunshine Coast recording more than 200 millimetres.