Heavy deluge to hit north Queensland

A severe weather warning is expected on Sunday. Photo / Thinkstock

A tropical low in the Coral Sea is not expected to intensify into a cyclone but will dump more heavy rain in north Queensland, the weather bureau says.

Bureau of Meteorology senior forecaster Gordon Banks told AAP the low will most likely cross Cape York Peninsula on Sunday and move southwest into the Channel Country around southern Gulf of Carpentaria.

Mr Banks said the Channel Country could face severe flooding and rain as heavy as 300mm in 24 hours were possible.

"There's every likelihood we'll be issuing a severe weather warning (on Sunday)," Mr Banks said.

"There has been heavy rain in the Channel Country in the past couple of weeks.

"It's not atypical for this region to receive more than 100mm of rain in a day during this time but we're concern about falls of more than 200mm or 300mm."

Three men have survived a dramatic night battling floodwaters at Emerald Falls, near Mareeba, west of Cairns.

One of the men was swept downstream but managed to cling onto a tree while the other two came to his rescue.

All three washed up on the other side of the creek, stranded from their vehicles and from two other mates who raised the alarm.

However the trio were found safe and well after they crossed the creek when floodwaters dropped dramatically on Saturday morning.

- AAP