North Queensland braces for cyclone's arrival

Tropical cyclone Ingrid is expected to bring gales to the Queensland coast this morning, with the most severe winds forecast for tonight and early tomorrow.

At 7am today (NZT) tropical cyclone Ingrid was described as a Category 4 storm located about 225km north-northeast of Cooktown and 305km east of Coen.

The Australian Bureau of Meteorology said the cyclone was moving west at 9km/h but was expected to move west-southwest during the day.

Forecasters said Ingrid posed a serious threat to the far north Queensland coast with very destructive wind gusts to 280km/hr near the centre.

Gales were expected to develop between Lockhart River and Cape Tribulation this morning. Destructive winds were likely between Coen and Cape Flattery later in the day. The very destructive core of the cyclone was expected near the coast between Coen and Cape Flattery overnight.

Coastal residents between Coen and Cape Flattery have been warned of the dangerous storm tide as the cyclone crosses the coast overnight and tomorrow morning.

The sea was likely to rise steadily to a level significantly above the highest tides of the year with damaging waves, strong currents and flooding of low-lying areas extending some way inland.