A tropical low dumping rain and wild weather on Far North Queensland is likely to become a cyclone on New Year’s Day.

December 31, 2018

Far North Queensland will welcome 2019 in with a bang, with wild winds and torrential rain forecast to batter the region ahead of a likely tropical cyclone.

A cyclone warning was extended late on Monday for communities from Kowanyama north to Cape York, taking in Weipa, Aurukun and Mapoon.

The Bureau of Meteorology expects tropical cyclone Penny to develop on Monday night and cross the western coast of the Cape York Peninsula late Tuesday as a category one system.

“We can expect some very heavy rainfall and near the centre, winds gusting in excess of 90km/h and possibly up to around the 125km/h mark,” meteorologist Dean Narramore told AAP.

 A severe weather warning for damaging winds, heavy rainfall and abnormally high tides has also been issued for the Torres Strait Islands and far north of the peninsula.

A heavy rainfall warning has been issued for the east coast of the peninsula, south of Lockhart River to Cairns.

Totals in excess of 150mm are possible and could lead to flash flooding, the bureau warns.

“We’re not worried about wind just yet on the east coast, at least for next 24 hours,” Mr Narramore said.

Rivers and creeks are already swollen after heavy rain soaked the region over Christmas, with parts of the far north receiving more than 400mm in the past week.

Flood warnings remain in place for Daintree and Mossman rivers, with a flood watch issued for rain catchments north of Cardwell.

One person remains missing in the floodwaters.

The body of a 28-year-old man was found on Monday morning, several kilometres downstream from where he entered a flooded canal close to Cairns city on Saturday.

North, at Rossville, there is still no sign of a 34-year-old woman last seen on Thursday walking into fast-flowing Wallaby Creek.

Minor flood warnings have been also issued for the Tully, Murray, upper Herbert, Mulgrave and Russell rivers.