Storm surge hits parts of north Qld A STORM surge has begun to inundate some coastal areas as a huge tropical storm barrels towards north Queensland. A cyclone warning is current for every town and city between Cardwell and St Lawrence, with the storm currently about 360km northeast of Townsville and moving southwest. The Bureau of Meteorology says the storm is packing winds up to 120km/h and is likely to develop into a category one cyclone on Thursday afternoon before it makes landfall somewhere between Lucinda and Proserpine on Friday. A dangerous storm surge is expected to coincide with a king tide on Thursday and Friday, but forecaster Matt Bass says seawater has started to swamp some coastal areas. "Already we are seeing some low-level inundation over coastal areas, and as the low intensifies and moves towards the coast, particularly on the high tide this morning and tomorrow morning, we could see more further low-level inundation with seawater," he told ABC Radio. Townsville and towns between Lucinda and Mackay have been warned of possible damaging waves and flooding of low-lying areas. Hamilton Island and some coastal communities also recorded winds of 120km/h overnight. Heavy rain, which may lead to flash flooding, is also expected about coastal and inland areas of the North Tropical Coast, the Tablelands, Herbert, Lower Burdekin, Central Coast and Whitsundays districts on Thursday.