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NQ’s gale-force warning as Cyclone Niran strengthens to category 3

Some banana crops have been wiped out as cyclone Niran intensifies off the far north Queensland coast.

Mar 03, 2021, updated Mar 03, 2021
Cairns residents have been issued a warning for gale-force winds as Cyclone Niran strengthens (Pic: ABC file)

Cairns residents have been issued a warning for gale-force winds as Cyclone Niran strengthens (Pic: ABC file)

Niran is expected to become a category three storm within 24 hours and while it’s not expected to cross the coast, gale-force winds have stripped banana trees leaving farmers in despair.

Niran is currently a category two cyclone sitting 335km northeast of Cairns, packing sustained winds of 100km/h, gusting to 140km/h.

A warning for gale-force winds is current from Cape Melville, north of Cooktown, to Innisfail, south of Cairns.

About 4000 people were without power in the Cairns region on Wednesday morning, down from about 42,000 on Monday afternoon when Niran – then just a low pressure system – pushed damaging winds ashore.

SES teams have been busy attending to damaged roofs and downed trees, and there have been reports of minor structural damage to sheds and outbuildings in the Cairns area.

Banana farmers have suffered heavy losses, with some saying they’ve lost 100 per cent of their crops.

The Australian Banana Growers’ Council says it’s too early to estimate losses, but it’s clear the bill will be significant particularly for growers around Innisfail and most of the Cassowary Coast region.

“It’s another bitter blow to growers who have suffered enormously with consecutive years of low prices and more recently critical worker shortages due to COVID,” council chair Stephen Lowe said.

Cassowary Coast grower Dianna Sciacca says she and her farmer neighbours expect to be without incomes until September or October.

“Most of the farms beside us, they’re looking at 90 to 100 per cent (damage), we’re probably 80 to 90,” she has told the ABC.

Communities from Cape Melville to Innisfail, including Cooktown, Port Douglas, and Cairns have been warned to prepare for more wild weather before the cyclone begins to track further offshore.

The Townsville radar went offline on Sunday but the bureau has re-assured the community this hasn’t affected its ability to issue forecasts and warnings.

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It’s estimated to be up and running again by Thursday.

Two people were rescued from floodwaters near the Star River, west of Townsville, about 9.30pm on Monday.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said residents should follow the bureau for updates.

“My main message today to people in the far north, and they’ve dealt with heavy rain before and cyclones so they know exactly what they’re doing, but if it’s flooded, forget it,” she said on Tuesday.

Tara Bennett, from Tourism Port Douglas Daintree, said her area had not suffered any damage.

She’s worried reports of wild weather across the far north could result in more cancellations for local operators, who are heavily dependent on international tourists who can’t visit because of the pandemic.

“We have barely had a gust of wind or rain,” she has told the ABC.

“I want people to be confident that our travel experiences are open. In a day or two the skies will be clear.”

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