Severe Tropical Cyclone Nora is beginning to affect the western coast of the Cape York Peninsula, with the category three system just 25 kilometres off Cape Keerweer.
The intensity of the storm has dropped as it approaches the coast, with winds near the centre reaching 120 kilometres per hour and gusts up to 165 kilometres per hour.
The system has begun to track more towards the south south-east in the past few hours, according to the Bureau of Meteorology.
"The good news, if I can make any good news out of this story, is that we're no longer expecting a category four system to affect the Gulf but it's still a very severe category three system with very destructive winds at its core," Bureau of Meteorology state manager Bruce Gunn said.
'You should not leave your homes'
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk urged all families in the areas affected to take it seriously.
"We are asking community members to move into stronger housing, that means housing that is above the storm tide area in some communities, but also too homes that are built post 1982," she said.
"Once you are in your homes this evening, you should not leave your homes.
"The winds are going to pick up in those communities and we want you to remain safe.
"Even though some of these communities are a long way apart from us here, we are all in this together and as Queenslanders we are not leaving any community alone."
'Lock down safe and secure'
Kowanyama local Kenny Hewson said an eerie silence had fallen over the community.
"The SES has kept us up to date with what's going on with Cyclone Nora," he said.
"They've moved everybody from the timber houses into brick houses so everybody's safe and they've come around door to door and told everyone to be inside from now, which the community are adhering to.
"So we're ready for whatever tonight brings."
State disaster coordinator Police Deputy Commissioner Bob Gee said people in affected communities should expect to be locked down for several days.
"For the people at Pompuraaw, Kowanyama and the extended western peninsula all the way down through the Gilbert River almost into Karumba, here's the message: lock down tonight safe and secure, take your supplies with you and stay there until it is safe to come out," he said.
"You can call Triple-0 at any time, we are here to help you.
"But can I let you know that there'll be a certain stage this evening where it won't be safe for anybody to be out, including police, SES, QFES and health professionals.
"We expect a lot of weather, a lot of rain with flash flooding. That means we really need to think about being locked down for a couple of days.
"We are more than prepared to come to you and provide you support as soon as we can get in."
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