Flash flooding swamps two Cairns caravan parks

The storm system has hit the far north hard. Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk (centre) is seen during a media conference with emergency officials. Photo / AAP

More than 40 people have been rescued from floodwaters at two Cairns caravan parks as ex-cyclone Nora dropped 100mm worth of rain "in a minute".

Desperate residents and visitors called state emergency services workers for help as flash flooding swamped the parks on Cairns' outskirts.

Queensland Fire and Emergency Services (QFES) Far North Regional Operations Director Lance Duncan said while authorities had braced for rain, the strength of the downpour had been unexpected.

"We weren't prepared for 100mm of rain in a minute," Duncan said.

Emergency crews are currently working to rescue a person trapped by floodwaters on the Captain Cook highway, north of Cairns.

The region is bracing for major flooding with the Barron River expected to reach its highest level in a decade, while Townsville has also been told to prepare for heavy falls as the weather system moves south.

Cairns remains cut off by flooding to the north and south, with both the Bruce Highway and Captain Cook Highway closed in parts.

All up, 42 people had to be rescued from the Big4 Crystal Cascades and the Coolwaters Holliday Park, with three people taken to hospital with minor injuries.

Two people were also rescued from their vehicle near the Captain Cook Highway.

A Bureau of Meteorology spokesman said the far north has received extraordinary rainfalls, with potential for further downpours and thunderstorms throughout today.

Port Douglas was hit with nearly 600mm of rain in the 24 hours to yesterday, while Kuranda, just north of Cairns, had more than 400mm with nearby Barron Falls raging with water.

Several tourists have been rescued as flash floods tore through a number of caravan parks in Cairns. #9News pic.twitter.com/OApf3wb9R8

— 9News Queensland (@9NewsQueensland) March 26, 2018

Cairns council has warned residents that major flood levels are occurring on the Barron River at Caravonica, Kamerunga and Lake Placid. The council has urged residents to get ready for flooding, and again warned motorists not to drive through roads covered by water.

Authorities have been forced to close 15 schools and 9 childcare centres in Gulf communities affected by Nora, and in and around Cairns.

Port Douglas residents have also been told the town's water supply is at critical levels as the local water treatment plan is struggling to cope with the continued rain.

- AAP