Tropical Cyclone Narelle is on a direct path toward northeastern Australia, where it will make a rare landfall as a powerful storm.

A category four tropical cyclone with destructive winds in excess of 250km/h has made landfall in Far North Queensland.

Authorities were warning of combined threats from strong winds, heavy rain, flooding from already-swollen river systems and storm surge in coastal areas, as the cyclone arrives close to a high tide.