POWER has been restored to around 7000 homes after it was cut caused by wild weather last night around Cairns.

The Cairns suburbs of Redlynch, Caravonica, Freshwater, Brinsmead, Kanimbla, Manoora and Mooroobool were among those affected, while Kuranda and Julatten on the Tableland also faced outages.

An Ergon spokesperson said high winds last night had bought trees and branches down on power lines, while there was an unconfirmed report of a trampoline flying into power lines in Whitfield.

State Emergency Service workers were also in for a hectic night, receiving 75 calls for assistance in northern and central Queensland over the last 24 hours.

A Department of Community Safety spokesperson said most of these jobs involved leaking rooves and fallen trees and there had been up to 15 calls from Cairns since Wednesday morning. 

A flood warning remains current for the Tully and Murray rivers and motorists are urged to use caution on wet roads.

The Bureau of Meteorolgy has forecast scattered showers with rain expected to ease during the day.

Moderate to heavy falls are possible in some areas.

The Bruce Highway was re-opened to a single lane through Tully yesterday and delays are continuing in the area this morning, while the road is currently cut at Cardwell.

The region was battered by damaging winds, with gusts to 90 km/h, heavy rainfall, and flash flooding last night.

Meanwhile, train services in the region continue to be affected due to poor weather with the line between Cairns and Townsville closed.

The Cairns Tilt Train scheduled to depart Cairns today will now commence from Townsville due to flooding on roads between Cairns and Townsville and the northbound and southbound Sunlander services will begin and end in Townsville.

The Kuranda Scenic Railway has been re-opened.

Police are also warning motorists to drive with care and obey all road closure signs and warnings, and are urging people to be patient, consider alternative routes or delay travel where needed. 

CURRENT ROAD CLOSURES & ADVICE (7.30am January 23):

CLOSURE/DELAYS – Kuranda Range (One lane closed to vehicles heading to Cairns at Rainforestation due to tree across road, Main Roads attending, expect delays for at least 1-2 hours)

CLOSED – Foxton Bridge, Mossman (Bridge flooded, emergency services attempting to retrieve a semi submerged vehicle, occupants escaped unharmed)

CLOSED -Bruce Highway at Ingham (Flooding of Seymour River, road closed to all traffic)

CAUTION – Mossman Mount Molloy Road (Road currently open however subject to flashing flooding. Bushy Creek at approximately 600mm and rising)

CAUTION – Silkwood Japoon Rd (Road currently open however subject to flash flooding, do not attempt to navigate road if flooded)

CLOSED/DELAYS - Tully Mission Beach Road (Currently closed due to flash flooding)

CLOSED – Burke Developmental Road, Highbury Tablelands (Closed from 44kms East of Dunbar to Palmerville Rd due to flooding)

CLOSED – Burke Developmental Road, Howitt-Carpentaria Shire (Closed to all vehicles from Walkers Creek to Capentaria boundary due to flooding)

CAUTION – Peninsula Developmental Road, Coen to Weipa (Road subject to 5 tonne GVM limit due to saturated pavements, do no attempt to navigate flooded roads)

CAUTION – Peninsula Developmental Road, Laura to Coen, Cook Shire (Road subject to 5 tonne GVM limit due to saturated pavements, Laura Bridge (North) currently closed due to flooding)

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