Queensland floods: Tropical cyclone warning is latest threat as flood-ravaged towns prepare for even more rain

A flood emergency is not over yet, with more significant wet weather forecast for northern Australia and the possibility of a tropical cyclone.

North Queensland is preparing for a new wave of monsoonal rains to hit the flood-ravaged region in the coming days.

Ingham has been one of the worst hit with floodwaters cutting power, disrupting telecommunications and affecting food supply.

Power was finally restored and a temporary crossing built on a damaged bridge for emergency services to transport much needed supplies late on Thursday.

But the sodden town is again on alert with Bowen also at risk of more flooding from further rainfall, Premier David Crisafulli warned.

“The double whammy is that you have conditions where everything is so waterlogged, it’s got nowhere to go,” he said.

“So if you have heavy rainfall in a short period of time, there is the real risk of flooding.”

The Bureau of Meteorology said a severe weather warning was likely to be issued on Friday for heavy rainfall that may lead to “life-threatening” flash flooding.

The flood risk has been increased due to catchments that have been saturated by heavy rainfall over the past week.

A tropical low is expected to develop in the Coral Sea off the Queensland coast on Saturday which the bureau warned had a low chance of becoming a cyclone.

However, it is expected to move east from the mainland over the weekend.

Rainfall totals until Sunday could reach up to 300mm for the north.

A number of flood warnings are in place from the far north’s Cairns to Saint Lawrence in central Queensland.

More support and emergency services are bound for the north with the recovery effort underway.

The army helped construct the temporary crossing on the collapsed Ollera Creek Bridge that had left Ingham residents stranded.

It will initially be open for emergency services to deliver critical supplies to the flood-hit town.

The Ingham substation that had been inundated was also switched back on to progressively restore power to the thousands who had been left in the dark for almost a week.

Ergon Energy is set to fast-track restoration work and transport more generators to help Ingham recover from flooding that claimed two lives.

Supermarket supplies also remain a priority for the north with the state government triggering a disaster planning event for businesses to operate 24/7 for a short window.

Two planes were due to fly to Cairns to provide food supplies for Weipa and the tropical coast.

Another flight with refrigerated goods is expected in the north on Friday.