Northeast Australia Faces Flooding Rain As Weakened Tropical Cyclone Jasper Lingers

The first storm of Australia's tropical cyclone season has weakened after making a destructive landfall on the northeastern coast of Queensland.

Tropical Cyclone Jasper slammed ashore late Wednesday evening as a strong Category 2 system with peak winds of 140 km/hr near the small Aboriginal community of Wujal Wujal.

While now below cyclone strength, the remnants of Jasper continue to hammer the region with torrential rain, flooding, and isolated wind damage.

Jasper's landfall location was sparsely populated, limiting loss of life and property destruction from its powerful winds and storm surge.

However, the nearby indigenous community of Wujal Wujal still faced a battering as the eye passed dangerously close by. With most residents having evacuated prior to the storm's arrival, homes and buildings held up relatively well despite the intense eyewall winds.