There's an eerie calmness over what is usually a bustling marina in the heart of far north Queensland's tourist capital, Cairns.
The marina is empty, its boats harbouring in safer estuaries, away from the looming danger.
Ominous-looking dark clouds hang over the city and the first raindrops are falling, a promise of wild weather to come.
"It's almost a bit of a movie scene," Cairns harbourmaster Captain David Ferguson said.
Exactly where Tropical Cyclone Jasper will hit, no one really knows yet, but the city of 160,000 people is preparing for what could become its first direct hit from a cyclone in more than 60 years.
Jasper is expected to cross the far north Queensland coast on Wednesday, with gales up to 120 km/h expected to develop along the coast from Tuesday afternoon.
"It's been irritating and annoying for people to move, but people know it's the right thing to do, so once this weather goes through, we can return to that bustling activity on our waterfronts," Captain Ferguson said.
To the north, the upmarket tourist town of Port Douglas is expected to be in the firing line.
This time of year is usually a busy holiday time, but the streets are deserted, bar a few locals and tourists doing last-minute preparations.
Boat owner Russell Childs, originally from WA, is one of about 100 people who've chosen to ride out the storm onboard their boats moored in mangroves parallel to the famous Four Mile Beach.
He's loaded his 11-metre, 8-tonne yacht with water and fuel.
"Ten to 15 knots is the strongest I've been in that boat. Always dodge all the wind, not this time. We're caught here, we have to stay here," Mr Childs said.
"To me it's an adventure because I've never been in one before."
But his kids and his wife think he's mad.
"The missus said it's going to be too rough, so she took off, she's in Cairns," he said.
Shelter for the homeless
But for people sleeping rough, the options are few and far between.
With crisis accommodation facilities already full, homelessness services are scrambling for last-minute solutions.
Ezra Boseun came south to Cairns from Weipa in Cape York with his partner and started searching for shelter this morning, when the winds started to pick up.
He's staying with local homeless medical charity Wheels of Wellness, which has opened up its doors for the next few days.
"I feel a bit relieved, but then I'm still thinking about the mothers on the streets — they need help more than I do," Mr Boseun said.
He said many rough sleepers did not have the photo identification required to shelter at official evacuation centres.
"All they have is a name and where they come from," he said.
Stocking up
A day out from Jasper's forecast arrival, the window for preparations is narrowing.
Some businesses are closing early in the Cairns CBD and few people are milling around on the normally busy Esplanade.
Swimmers have disappeared from the Esplanade Lagoon and workers are busy sandbagging some shopfronts.
But many cafes and restaurants are still open, hoping for some final trade.
Cairns resident William Gizu, originally from Thursday Island and Mabiuag in the Torres Strait, said he had never experienced a cyclone in his life.
The 55-year-old was gazing out across the rainy Esplanade enjoying an ice cream as the rains started rolling in.
"I've got some water bottles and that, a torch," he said.
"I actually always pray – I'm a Christian. I pray to God to make everything clear."
The Daintree River ferry – the only crossing between Port Douglas and communities north of the Daintree River – has stopped, with the ferry chained to pylons.
Douglas Shire mayor Michael Kerr urged tourists in the region to have a plan to bunker down during the cyclone.
Far North Queenslanders used the weekend's warm, calm weather to clear their properties and stock up on essential items.
By Monday, queues were building at petrol stations as people filled their tanks in case they are left without power for days.
"It's not panic buying," Cassowary Coast mayor Mark Nolan said.
"They're purchasing batteries, they're getting fuel, supplies in terms of food and water, all those critical things."
Cr Nolan said his community south of Cairns had learnt from the devastation of cyclones Larry and Yasi in 2006 and 2011 respectively.
With storm surges predicted along the coast, residents also spent their final days of preparation filling sandbags.
Innisfail banana grower Gavin Eilers said workers began removing leaves from as many younger trees as they could last week.
"We're just cutting everything that is ready," he said.
"Normally we have a fortnightly cut on half the farm, [but] rather than that, we're cutting the whole farm."
Tour operators wait it out
Fitzroy Island Resort, off the coast of Cairns, is a popular destination for day-trippers and visitors.
It too sits empty and will remain closed until at least Friday.
But tourism operators are already looking ahead to when the danger has passed.
"They're all saying that hopefully if this passes on Wednesday, they can get their boats out on Thursday and be back operating on Friday," Cr Kerr said.
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2023-12-12 04:43:31Z
CBMiXmh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmFiYy5uZXQuYXUvbmV3cy8yMDIzLTEyLTEyL2N5Y2xvbmUtamFzcGVyLWNhaXJucy1wcmVwYXJlcy1zdG9ybXMtd2VhdGhlci8xMDMyMTcxODDSAQA
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