The effects of Tropical Cyclone Nathan have already begun as heavy rain and strong winds hit North Queensland. South Johnstone and Cairns recorded 87mm and 55mm in the 24 hours to 9am today, while a thunderstorm from the outer bands of the cyclone dumped eight millimetres in 10 minutes in Wepia. Winds also became gusty last night and this morning, reaching 100km/h on the Bouganville Reef and as strong as 74km/h on the mainland at Cape Flattery. Nathan has intensified into a category two Tropical Cyclone and is moving in a west-southwesterly direction towards the coast at 15km/h. At this stage, Tropical Cyclone Nathan should intensify further, into a severe category three system on Thursday as it nears the QLD coast. It brings the risk of widespread rainfall of 200-400mm between Innisfail and Lockhart River with more than 500mm possible in the Cooktown area, most falling in the space of 24-to-48 hours. Gale force winds will whip up along the coast from Lockhart River to Port Douglas tomorrow. On Thursday afternoon Tropical Cyclone Nathan should stall before completing a U-turn, beginning to track in an easterly direction on Friday. Rain and wind should ease by the weekend as it continues to track away from the coast.