Cyclone Charlotte Douses Australia's 'Top End'

Cyclone Charlotte can be seen dissipating over far northern Queensland on January 11.

Highways were submerged and entire towns were isolated as the “double whammy” of Tropical Cyclone Charlotte and high astronomical tides swamped far northern Australia on Sunday and Monday.

Between 8 and 16 inches of rainfall (200-400 mm) helped bring water to waist depth in some parts of north Queensland, washing out the Bruce Highway between Cairns and Tulley.

Around 100 homes in the Cairns and Port Douglas areas were flooded. Officials said damage from the storm and high tides is expected to surge into the tens of millions of Australian dollars.

Charlotte was Queensland’s first cyclone of the season, and only attained tropical storm force for a few hours.

The storm's potential to strengthen was limited by its proximity to land while forming over the Gulf of Carpentaria.

The heaviest rainfall occurred over Queesland’s Cape York Peninsula, where Charlotte eventually dissipated.

Tropical Cyclone Charlotte Track

Satellite Loop Data: CIMSS