CYCLONE Ita has now been declared a category 5 storm as it tracks towards the far north Queensland coast, where it is expected to hit tomorrow evening.

LATEST UPDATES: Follow our live coverage as Cyclone Ita shapes up to hit the Queensland coast.

9.30pm: Manager of the Cooktown Hotel, Michelle Thompson said the town was experiencing the calm before the storm.

“At the moment the weather’s pretty calm so there is a bit of an eerie feeling.”

“It’s calm, the wind isn’t anything unusual.

“It’s drizzled, but just a little bit of rain nothing threating just your typical Cooktown four seasons in a day kind of thing.”

Ms Thompson’s family had just taken over the Cooktown business seven days ago.

She said she thinks the longstanding tavern will hold up well against the powerful storm.

“She’s an old pub, it went through the 1943 cyclone, It was built in 1885 so I’d say it’s probably seen its fair share,” she said.

“It should fair up a bit better than some others, hopefully we don’t get too affected by it anyway.”

5.15pm: Cyclone Ita has been declared a potentially devastating category 5 storm as it moves towards the far north Queensland coast.

It is estimated to be 375km north northeast of Cooktown and 325 kilometres northeast of Cape Melville, and moving west southwest at 18 kilometres per hour.

Ita is predicted to land north of Cooktown tomorrow night and there’s a strong chance she will coincide with a 7pm high tide.

This will create dangerous storm surges, about 1.5 metres bigger than usual high tides, from Port Douglas to Cape Melville, Queensland’s Bureau of Meteorology says.

News_Module: Cyclone Ita: NOAA Satellite and Information Service

The bureau’s senior forecaster Pradeep Singh says heavy rain will also trigger flash floods.

He said while Ita was intense, it’s a smaller system and would move slower than category five Cyclone Yasi in 2011 and category four Cyclone Larry in 2006.

It’s expected to bring 280km/h winds when it hits the coast, with 9000 people directly in its path.

2.10pm: Cyclone Ita has hit Category 4, with winds to 280km/h.

It was about 410km northeast of Cooktown and 380km east northeast of Cape Melville at 2pm and increasing speed to 16km/h.

Destructive winds may develop between Cape Sidmouth and Cooktown as early as tomorrow morning before extending inland to Laura and further south to Cape Tribulation later in the day.

Gales are expected almost 200km out from the cyclone’s eye.

1.40pm: Cyclone Ita is now expected to cross the coast near Cape Flattery, north of Cooktown, about 7pm tomorrow, pushing a combined storm surge and waves of about 2.7m.

It will then turn south, travelling as a low before veering back into the Coral Sea on Sunday where it may again reform into a cyclone.

Forecasters say computer modelling of the storm’s path is starting to firm up after a confusing week in which projections on its landfall have varied from the tip of Cape York to about Cairns.

The cyclone may make a damaging category 5 - the most powerful - shortly before it comes ashore and is forecast to produce flood rains well south of Cairns.

12.30pm: Premier Campbell Newman says steps are being taken to warn campers in far north Queensland, with authorities considering sending a helicopter up and down the coast to ensure campers are located, alerted to the approaching danger and moved to a place of safety.

“I am probably most concerned with people who could be camping along the coast, particularly between Mossman and Cooktown because there are many small little communities there and camping areas and the like so we are trying to get the message out so we have rangers out there and we are contemplating putting a helicopter up to run up the coast,” Mr Newman said.

He said the beaches were closed and stinger nets removed.

Power could be out for several weeks in the affected areas following the storm and the road system is also expected to be impacted.

He stressed residents should be prepared for the intense rainfall that will come with the storm.

“The rain impacts on the Tablelands, the hinterland around Cairns, will be the thing,” he said.

“That is why I want to stress, local intense rain could see significant flash flooding. There are some steep hillsides for example, around the suburbs of Cairns, you’ll see a lot of rain coming off those hillsides, and surrounding areas, and that is an issue. The rain causing local flooding is something people should be particularly conscious of.”

Midday: Premier Campbell Newman says up to 9000 people could be affected by Cyclone Ita, including 400 people in the town of Bloomfield, 400 in Coen, about 300 in the Cook shire and Laura, 2400 in Cooktown, 1100 in Hopevale, 270 people in Wujal Wujal, 1700 in Mossman and 5000 in Port Douglas.

He warned people not to underestimate the storm surge, which could as high as 1.5m above the highest tide, as well as the cyclonic winds and intense rain.

“Tropical Cyclone Ita is currently heading towards the Far North Queensland coast ... and it is heading towards an area of the coast that is relatively unpopulated but it is the case that, if you look across the communities there, there are around 9000 Queenslanders who will be directly impacted by this system,” Mr Newman said.

“It is expected Tropical Cyclone Ita will cross the coast north of Cooktown some time around 10pm on Friday night.

It is expected to hit the coast at around a category 4, maybe category 5 intensity.

“It will then turn nautical south, diminishing in intensity and heading down inland, down Cape York towards the Atherton Tablelands.

“The big concerns that people need to be preparing themselves for are storm surge which means in low-lying areas water much higher potentially then normal tides, potentially 1.5m higher than the highest tide you would normally ever see and that could be all the way down the coast, through Cooktown to places like Port Douglas.

“The other big concern of course will be the normal high winds that can cause debris flying around ... and finally very intense rain causing quite severe local flooding.

“We will see hundreds of millimetres of rain in certain catchments, fast rising rivers and creeks and also problems in suburban areas potentially as far south as Cairns.”

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11.20am: National Parks Minister Steve Dickson has ordered the closure of all camp grounds and day use areas from Townsville to Cape York, including the Tablelands and the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area and coastal islands such as Hinchinbrook.

“Cyclone Ita is an intense and powerful cyclone, potentially the strongest since Cyclone Yasi in 2011,” Mr Dickson said.

“...We ask those currently in national parks to work with us and follow the directions of our park rangers.’’

Mr Dickson said it might take weeks or even months for rangers to restore access and to repair facilities, depending on the extent of damage.

11.15am: LOOK out far north Queensland. Cyclone Ita is intensifying and may make category 5, just as big, powerful and dangerous as Cyclone Yasi that devastated the Mission Beach and Cardwell areas in 2011.

Weather Bureau forecasters say they cannot rule out that it will become a category 5 - the strongest possible - just before hitting land.

Storms of this size have winds of more than 280km/h and are very destructive.

There are few atmospheric conditions occurring to reduce the power of Cyclone Ita.

Yasi was one of the most powerful cyclones to have hit Queensland since records started.

Previous cyclones of a comparable intensity include the 1899 Cyclone Mahina at Princess Charlotte Bay and two cyclones of 1918 at Mackay and Innisfail.

Most global computer models show the cyclone will cross about 10pm tomorrow between Cape Sidmouth and Cooktown.

At 11am Cyclone Ita was about 490km east of Lockhart River and 440km northeast of Cooktown, and moving west southwest at 14km/hr.

Although still a category 3, it is expected to intensify into at least a severe category 4.

Gales currently extend 220km out from the centre and may develop between Cape Grenville and Port Douglas late tonight or earlytomorrow.

Gales may extend southward to Innisfail tomorrow as the system moves closer to the coast.

A dangerous storm surge and flooding is expected.

Cook Shire mayor Peter Scott said the heritage town was as prepared as it could be.

``We’re lucky that we’ve had plenty of warning from the bureau but we’re a bit worried about some of the old buildings that go back to the turn of last century and how they will stand up,’’ he said.

``We haven’t had a decent cyclone go through here since 1949.’’

Cr Scott said the cyclone would impact on the region’s busy Easter tourist period.

``There aren’t too many people left around town (who are not locals),’’ he said.

Cooktown Caravan Park owner John Noonan said he was extremely worried about the cyclone and had ordered all caravans and campers out of the park.

``I’ve seen a lot of cyclones and I’ve got a funny feeling about this one,’’ he said.

``There’s no mucking about with it. It’s real big and going to be very dangerous.’’

Mr Noonan said everyone in the town of 2400 was uneasy and people were working feverishly to prepare.

``We’ve done all we can. All we can do now is wait and hope it goes somewhere else,’’ he said.

About 20 roads in the Cook Shire are closed or limited to local traffic from rain earlier in the season.

Queensland Seafood Industry Association chairwoman Karen Collard said about 20 to 30 prawn trawlers had scattered up creeks and rivers and some had steamed out of the area.

``They’re all hunkering down somewhere,’’ she said. ``They go up creeks to find safe moorings and some have tried to clear the area.

``You don’t really get safe moorings on that stretch of coast until you are south to about Cairns.’’

Crabber and barramundi fishermen had smaller craft and had either disappeared up creeks or hauled boats out of the water.

10am: Cyclone Ita’s wind gusts have reached a roof-lifting 220km/hr as it bears down on the north Queensland coast at 14km/hr.

The cyclone is 490km northeast of Cooktown and expected to land between Cape Melville and Cape Flattery Friday night and may batter north Queensland for at least part of the weekend.

Weather Bureau forecaster Pradeep Singh said gale force winds to 100km/hr might stretch about 300km inland although the main threat would be flooding.

“Because it’s fairly intense, it’ll take a while to lose the vortex,’’ he said.

“Because there will be no dry air or wind shear getting into the system, we expect it to hang around for a while.’’

Far north Queensland residents from Cape Tribulation to Cairns and up to 300km inland and including Kalinga, Laura, Palmerville, and Chillagoe have been warned to prepare for the wind gusts.

Weather Bureau forecasters believe Ita will intensify to category 4 before hitting land.

Ita has remained at a constant intensity for 24 hours, possibly due to interaction with the Papua New Guinea land mass immediately to the north.

It is expected to crank up further later today as the system moves away from PNG and swings west-southwest.

It poses a major threat to coastal communities from flood rain, destructive winds and a storm surge which will produce flooding from Cape Sidmouth to Cape Tribulation as it crosses the coast.

Mr Singh said people in these areas must be ready to evacuate if advised to do so by authorities.

Queensland Fire and Emergency Services will today send 17 staff from Cairns to Cooktown.

QFES northern regional director Wayne Coutts said if people were told to evacuate, they must leave their homes immediately and seek shelter with friends or family who are further inland or on higher ground.

Otherwise, the best option was to shelter at home until the cyclone passed.

“Turn off all your electricity, gas and water and unplug all appliances. Bring your family to the strongest part of the house and ensure your emergency kit is close by,’’ Mr Coutts said.

“If the building you’re sheltering in begins to break up, immediately seek shelter under a strong table or bench or under a heavy mattress.

“Stay inside until you have received official advice that the cyclone has passed. Some people are not aware of the calm eye of the cyclone and mistakenly venture outside thinking the threat has passed.’’

Mr Coutts said tourists and travellers were particularly urged to heed warnings.

Gales are expected as far south as Cairns.

Flash flooding is also expected to develop on Cape York Peninsula, the north tropical coast and Tablelands districts into the weekend.

Mr Singh said the extent of flooding would be determined by how quickly the cyclone moved.

“They do tend to slow up a bit as they approach the coast,’’ he said.

6am: A cyclone warning has been declared for coastal areas from Cape Grenville to Cape Tribulation.

A cyclone watch remains current for coastal areas from Cape Tribulation to Cairns, extending up to 200 kilometres inland to areas including Kalinga, Laura, Palmerville, and Chillagoe.

At 4:00am EST Severe Tropical Cyclone Ita, Category 3, was estimated to be 600 kilometres east northeast of Lockhart River and 580 kilometres northeast of Cooktown, and moving west at 14 kilometres per hour.

Earlier, The Courier-Mail reported Cyclone Ita is barrelling towards the Queensland coast with Cairns on cyclone watch and an entire Cape York township has been evacuated.

By the time it hits the coast tomorrow night, Cyclone Ita is forecast to be category 4, producing gales along almost 500km of the far north coast from Cairns to the tip of Cape York Peninsula.

The Weather Bureau is warning people in shoreline areas they should prepare to evacuate with 50 mine workers already abandoning the Cape Flattery Silica Mine township, north of Cooktown

PREMIER CUTS SHORT TRIP TO MEET CYCLONE THREAT

Packing winds packing winds of up to 280km/h - Ita is tracking to hit the coast right near the mine site, north of Cooktown.

Forecasters rate it as a significant threat, with the potential for flood rains and a storm surge. Cooktown will have a high tide of 2.4m at 7.26pm.

Last night Ita was 770km east, northeast of Cooktown and had picked up speed to 15km/hr and is forecast to hit in a remote area between Cape Melville and Cooktown.

Energy Minister Mark McArdle said Ita was potentially the most powerful storm to threaten Queensland since Cyclone Yasi and people should be prepared to face power outages for a month or longer, depending on where it came ashore.

Premier Campbell Newman will return from a trade mission to Asia with Prime Minister Tony Abbott to oversee cyclone preparations.

Ita will likely ease to a low after crossing the coast but the bureau has upgraded its alert for the western side of the cape, warning that Ita now has up to a 50 per cent chance of moving into the Gulf of Carpentaria as early as Saturday.

News_Module: NND MultiPromo Cyclone Ita Slider

It’s likely track is turning into a moving feast, with some international cyclone models having the storm veering further south towards more built up areas but Weather Bureau forecasters are sticking with a consensus of all models.

Forecaster Andrew Cameron said this might change as the storm neared the coast.

Winds to 280km/hr are expected near the eye of the cyclone, with places like Cairns to get a lesser buffeting.

With tourists on the road due to school and Easter holidays, the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service has closed all camping areas from the Daintree north.

QPWS executive director operations Jason Jacobi said conditions could still be dangerous once Ita passed, with areas expected to be affected by flooding, fallen trees and landslides.

Dangerous estuarine crocodiles and snakes also would be displaced and on the move.

Glen and Susan Shephard of 30,000ha Lillyvale Station on Cape York near the storm’s likely centre expect to be flooded in, possibly for months.

Their homestead and outbuildings were flooded by Cyclone Monica in 2006 and Mr Shephard said he was preparing for similar conditions.

``During Monica you couldn’t see land from the house. I’ve got a good boat now so we can get to higher ground,’’ Mr Shephard said. ``Our neighbours recorded 870mm in two days with Monica so we know what we’re in for.’’

Meantime, concerns have been raised about two elderly men who drove their 4WDs into Princess Charlotte Bay despite locals warning them of the approaching cyclone.

A world record 14.6m storm surge occurred in the same area in 1899 when Cyclone Mahina came ashore. About 500 pearling sailors and Murris were drowned.

Ann Louise Mulley of Coen’s Exchange Hotel said the town was battening down although fuel was short due to water damage to the Cape York Developmental Rd.

``You do what you can and then you’ve just got to sit back and cop it,’’ she said.

Gales are expected to extend up to 240km out from Ita’s centre and may develop between Cape Grenville and Port Douglas today. Showers are expected as far south as central Queensland and Brisbane and the southeast face showers and storms on Saturday and Sunday.

Mr McArdle said fuel was on hand for generators and Ergon crews and four helicopters were on standby to handle issues with the electricity grid.

Priority in restoring electricity would be given to hospitals, nursing homes and evacuation centres.

Cairns Disaster Group Chair Cr Steve Brain said they were taking the threat seriously but warned public shelters were a “place of last resort’’.

“This is a strong system that is expected to intensify further prior to making landfall,’’ he said.

Cape Flattery Silica Mine general manager Gary Bartholdt said the mine site was in the direct path of the cyclone.

“We’ve got everyone out,’’ said general manager Gary Bartholdt.

“It seems like we have a bullseye on us, in the path of a direct hit.

“We just can’t take the risk with the lives of any of our employees.’’

Cape Flattery staff spent yesterday battening down, tying down conveyor belts, moving machinery and equipment, and bolting storm shutters onto buildings.

Most buildings are waterfront including two workshops, six two-storey barracks buildings and manager’s houses only two metres above the high tide mark.

“It is a very picturesque spot, unless you’ve got a cyclone bearing down on you,’’ Mr Bartholdt said.

“If there is a big storm surge, it is possible this place will go underwater.’’