During its formative stages and due to its proximity to the coastline, the initial tropical low-pressure complex that eventually consolidated into Tropical Cyclone Grace caused widespread flooding and damage to roads and property along the far north Queensland coast, mainly between Cooktown and Cairns. Topaz recorded 759mm in the 72 hours to 9am 21 March 2004 (the highest 24hour total was 372mm).

Winds and waves brought tide levels above the highest tides of the year (HAT) and this was particularly evident at Cooktown where a 0.4 m storm surge was recorded on the morning high tide (0.3 m above HAT) on 19 March. Many boats were upturned in the harbour and washed away. Further south storm surges caused the flooding around the northern beach suburbs of Cairns and required the closing of some roads. The strongest winds were recorded from Green Island AWS with average winds reaching 120/41knots and gusting to 49 knots. The strongest winds from Low Isle were 140/39knots gusting 50 knots.

Floodwaters closed all major roads into Cairns. In addition, a large section of one lane of the Captain Cook Highway north of Cairns collapsed after a landslide consisting of nearly 20 metres of rock and boulders the size of cars destroyed the ocean-side road. The scenic coastal highway and link between Cairns and Port Douglas was closed for several days. Residents were evacuated from the Whitfield range area due to landslides.

An estimated $20,000,000 (US) damage to the Cairns region. On Saturday (19 March), SES workers were rescuing motorists who had driven around the closure signs only to be swept from the roads. Also, a man was rescued clinging to the roof of his car in floodwaters north of Cairns after being trapped there for four hours. Gales and large wave then affected the central and south coasts. Heron Island recorded gales with gusts to 48 knots and Cape Moreton recorded gusts to 54 knots. On 23 March a helicopter and coastguard rescued a stricken craft near the Gold Coast Seaway.

Rockhampton Regional Council in partnership with the Queensland a…

Cyclone Grace track and intensity (BOM)