Residents of far north Queensland are bracing for power outages, internet and water supply disruptions with the arrival of Tropical Cyclone Jasper.

Jasper was estimated to be about 850 kilometres east of Cairns as of 4pm Sunday (AEST), with residents between Cooktown and Ingham warned to expect damaging 90km/h winds to develop from Tuesday.

The damaging winds could extend as far north as Cape Melville, on the eastern coast of Cape York Peninsula, and as far south as Townsville, the Bureau of Meteorology warned.

Heavy rainfall was also expected along the coast from late Tuesday, ahead of Jasper likely making landfall on Wednesday between Cooktown and Cardwell.

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Flooding was possible for the north tropical coast, parts of the Cape York Peninsula and Gulf Country from Wednesday, the bureau warned.

There is also a severe weather warning for damaging winds for Monday for parts of the Herbert, lower Burdekin, central coast and Whitsundays districts, with the bureau predicting gusts of up to 90km/h in some areas.

Queensland Fire and Emergency Services on Sunday warned residents between Cape Melville and Townsville that strong winds could fell trees and powerlines, blow roofs off houses and blow away anything not tied down.

Jasper could also cause phones and internet to stop working, along with water supplies, the services said.

Communities could also be isolated.

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk – before announcing her shock retirement from politics on Sunday – said she had been briefed on the cyclone.

“I can say that all preparations are well and truly in place,” she said in Brisbane.

“It is expected to make land on Wednesday and can I just remind Queenslanders and especially north Queensland to take care.”

The cyclone was travelling 14km/h, moving south-west on Sunday afternoon.

-AAP