Tropical Cyclone Ita has been downgraded to a category two storm as it travels down the far north Queensland coast.

The cyclone made landfall at Cape Flattery about 9:00pm AEST on Friday night as a category four storm, but weakened as it travelled inland.

Destructive winds of up to 150 kilometres per hour are lashing the region. There are reports that trees are down and homes have been damaged.

The system is continuing to weaken as it moves south-southwest inland from Cooktown.

Queensland Premier Campbell Newman warned that communities were still "staring down quite a destructive event".

The main evacuation centre in Cooktown has been locked down, while residents in the red and orange zones of Cairns are being advised to evacuate because of a potential storm surge threat.

Councils in the region say they are prepared for electricity supply to be cut to some remote communities for up to a month.

Follow all the developments on our live blog, and read the story here.