Ex-cyclone Koji has made landfall in Queensland, bringing with it heavy rains and gale-force winds - and more is on the way.
Ex-cyclone Koji has made landfall in Queensland, bringing with it heavy rains and gale-force winds - and more is on the way.
The tropical low was declared a cyclone overnight as a category 1 storm.
It was downgraded back to a tropical low as it reached the coast.
READ MORE: Family airlifted from bushfire after sheltering in shipping container
READ MORE: FBI won't co-operate with state investigators in ICE shooting case
Making landfall about 9am (10am AEDT), the system crossed near Ayr, north of Bowen, and was soaking large parts of the north all the way down to the Whitsundays.
The Bureau of Meteorology warned residents in and around Ayr and Bowen would see the heaviest rain, which could bring flash flooding into tomorrow.
Premier David Crisafulli warned that while the ex-cyclone had been downgraded, heavy rain and flash flooding was still a risk.
"They are swollen catchments and in the hours and in the days ahead there's expected to be significant rainfall still to come," he said.
READ MORE: Body found in bushfire-hit area, prime minister and premier visit devastated town
He said strong winds were also having an effect.
The highest wind speed was recorded as 113km/h at Hamilton Island.
"That's a significant wind speed," Crisafulli said.
About 370 millimetres of rain had fallen on some areas west of Mackay.
READ MORE: Murder probe after man, 51, dies at immigration detention centre
"The low will continue to move south-south-west at a steady pace for around about 18km/h and it will continue to produce heavy rainfall," a BoM spokeswoman said.
"And in some areas local wind gusts to around 90km/h. So that's a damaging wind gusts."
Rescues related to the ex-cyclone includde a woman and two children who had to flee their car after driving into floodwaters.
They had been led to the location by Google Maps.
Two men also had to be rescued after their boat sank in the wild weather.
READ MORE: 'It was too late': Brigade commander loses home while defending neighbouring properties
The BoM's warning zone extended from Ayr to Mackay, including the Whitsunday Islands, Bowen and Proserpine.
An earlier warning for Townsville had been cancelled.
There were multiple "take shelter now" emergency alerts as the storm reached the mainland.
Residents were being told if they had any concerns, to get themselves to evacuation shelters and facilities to keep themselves and their families safe.
Cattle killed in floods
More than 45,000 head of cattle have been reported as lost in the floods, Crisafulli said, and the number was expected to rise.
"The economic impact for western Queensland because of how important agriculture is to underpin those communities will be large," he said.
"We're continuing to supply fodder and we are also bringing in veterinary supplies to try to deal with things like bacteria and pneumonia, which is a real risk for beasts when they're standing in the water.
"We're doing everything we can to try to spare as many of those as possible and help those primary producers."
READ MORE: Deadly protests in Iran reach two-week mark as country remains without internet
READ MORE: NSW set to face extreme fire dangers
Complicating management of the weather was a serious connectivity issue affecting the Townsville area.
A thief cut a telecommunications line while trying to steal copper in Deeragun.
"My message to that lowlife is you have put at risk the lives of North Queenslanders in their hour of need and you can't get a lower act than that," Crisafulli said.
"And we intend to make sure that we throw the book at this individual when they are caught.
"Telecommunications are life and death."
DOWNLOAD THE 9NEWS APP: Stay across all the latest in breaking news, sport, politics and the weather via our news app and get notifications sent straight to your smartphone. Available on the Apple App Store and Google Play.
Body found after Longwood bushfire, blazes continue across Victoria
Man charged after man dies at Sydney immigration centre
Iran warns it will retaliate if Trump orders strike over protests
Family shelters in shipping container as home destroyed by fire
Disaster relief payments for Aussies affected by Victoria bushfires
Childcare centre shut down in Sydney for failing to meet standards
Man, 19, arrested after teen allegedly stabbed to death in Melbourne
Homes razed, cattle killed as fires continue to burn
Hundreds dead in mass Iran protests, activists say
Couple get hire car stuck in sinkhole on way to airport in Adelaide
Millions of Instagram users sent 'password reset' emails amid data breach reports
Residents 'shattered' after losing family relics in bushfire
ICE agent's phone captures fatal confrontation in Minneapolis
'It was too late': Firefighter loses home while defending neighbouring properties
'Like an atomic bomb': Small town unrecognisable as fire destroys homes
'Nobody shied away': Bystanders jumped in to help family trapped in major crash
