Lockhart River battens down as Cyclone Zane approaches Destructive winds and torrential rain are expected when Cyclone Zane makes landfall on Wednesday night. CATEGORY 2 Tropical Cyclone Zane is expected to hit far northern Queensland tonight or early tomorrow bringing a dangerous storm tide, heavy rain and winds up to 160km/h. But Zane is expected to weaken to a Category 1 storm before it crosses far northern Queensland tomorrow morning, according to the Bureau of Meteorology. Forecaster Michael Knepp said Zane was about 300km east of the coast and was showing weakening signs. It is currently classified as a Category 2 storm with wind gusts up to 160km/h and is continuing to move west at 12km/h. At 4am, the storm was 550km east southeast of Lockhart River and 350km east-northeast of Cooktown and was moving west at 12km/h. Forecasters have predicted Zane will cross the coast between Orford Ness and Cape Melville with destructive winds to develop between Cape Grenville and Cape Melville later today. LATE ARRIVAL: Satellite image of Cyclone Zane heading toward the coast of Queensland last night. Gales are expected between Cape York and Cape Tribulation from late morning and these may extend to the western side of Cape York Peninsula north of Mapoon tonight or early Thursday. As Zane approaches, coastal residents are urged to prepare for a dangerous storm tide, which is likely to flood low-lying areas close to the shoreline. Heavy rain and possible flash flooding is also expected north of Cape Tribulation later today. People from Mapoon to Cape York and Cape Tribulation should immediately commence or continue preparations and secure boats and property. See disaster.qld.gov.au for more information. For emergency assistance, call the Queensland State Emergency Service on 132 500. Earlier, The Courier-Mail reported that the cyclone was last night rated a category 2, but some predicted it would reach a destructive category 3 before making landfall. Lockhart River Aboriginal Council mayor Wayne Butcher said the 600-odd community members had been warned of the approaching storm and all precautions had been taken. "We're just doing our last door knock," he said. We've got supplies in, and we expect to lose power for 48-72 hours. We also expect the Telstra gear to be blown down, so we'll probably end up out of contact too. We'll be on the southern side of it, which is where you always get the worst wind. Zane was expected to develop a west-northwest track last night, crossing Cape York between Orford Ness and Lockhart River late today. Satellite radar image of Cyclone Zane heading toward the coast of Queensland last night. A storm surge and minor flooding is expected. It will enter the Gulf of Carpentaria north of Mapoon where it will ease down to a low. Large parts of Cape York and the Gulf of Carpentaria missed out on monsoon rain this season, with nine northern shires drought declared on Monday. The cyclone was being felt as far south as Cairns with wind gusts, heavy cloud and rain. Zane formed on the last day of the official cyclone season and will be the first major tropical storm to cross the coast in the month of May in 43 years. It will be the fourth cyclone to have an impact along the coast this season although a fifth - Cyclone Freda - formed in January near the Solomons but was in Queensland waters for only about six hours. Weather Bureau forecaster Rick Threlfall said the storm was cracking along at 17km/h. Mostly fine conditions will continue in the southeast for the week, with an odd shower in Brisbane tomorrow.