Swathes of Australia s east coast are set to be battered by heavy rain and damaging winds this week, as wild summer weather returns.
Tropical cyclone Kimi bearing down the north Queensland coast has intensified and been re-classed as Category 2 on Monday as emergency preparations begin ahead of the storm s landfall.
The system is currently moving south with wind speeds of about 130km/h and a cyclone warning has been issued for Townsville, Ayr and Palm Island.
The wild weather will not just be confined to the north of country, with south-east Queensland and northern New South Wales expected to also cop a hammering.
NSW, Queensland weather: Storms smash Byron, Gold Coast, worse to come
geelongadvertiser.com.au - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from geelongadvertiser.com.au Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Weather forecast Australia: Heavy rains and flooding continue in Queensland and New South Wales
9news.com.au - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from 9news.com.au Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.