Two men trapped in flash flooding after Cyclone Jasper batters Queensland - as residents are warned to move to higher ground

Two men were left stranded on the roof of a remote Cape York property as Cyclone Jasper continues to ravage the region, with authorities warning residents to stay clear of rising floodwaters. 

The pair had been forced to climb to the top of their ranger station near Battlecamp Rd in Melsonby Homestead, northwest of Cooktown, on Saturday evening following torrential rain.

Emergency services were alerted to the men's location about 11.40pm when a member of the public reported the situation.

The duo do not have mobile reception and have been communicating to a friend, the police informant, via Wi-Fi.

'Last night it was too dangerous to get the helicopter out. The plan was to get there this morning, but the helicopter cannot deploy due to dangerous weather. The earliest crews can deploy is midday,' a police spokeswoman told the Cairns Post.

'They are still on the roof and have been since 3am.'

'(It's been reported) they have no shelter, no water and no food.'

The urgency of the situation was escalated at 9.55am on Sunday morning due to an increased threat to the men's lives.  

Queensland Fire and Emergency Services confirmed they are aware of the situation, readying water rescue crews and the helicopter pilot to locate and rescue the men. 

Wild weather and 'life-threatening' flooding aren't expected to ease for days with multiple rescues and evacuations having been carried out over the weekend, mostly at Mossman, Douglas, Gordonvale and Innisfail. 

Ex-tropical Cyclone Jasper is lashing the north of the state, with areas between Daintree to Ingham receiving more than 450mm of rain.

The Bureau of Meteorology said more than 20 rain gauges in the region had recorded more than a metre of rainfall, with the water levels expected to break 1977 records.

'It's important to note with this scenario that flash-flooding and riverine flooding can change very quickly,' meteorologist Laura Boekel said on Sunday.

'This is very much an evolving situation,' she warned.

There was a 'very high likelihood' conditions won't ease until Tuesday afternoon.

Emergency warnings are in place across the state, as thousands of people are urged to move to higher ground.

People at the Blue Water Estate in Trinity Park were urged to leave the area immediately at 1pm due to a dangerous flooding and to seek shelter in a high place.

Roads were closed throughout the Cairns area due to 'life-threatening flash-flooding', a Queensland Police spokeswoman said.

Homes, buildings, roads and bridges have been inundated while authorities also warned of landslides and the risk that vital services like power, water, sewerage and telephone services could be cut off.

Residents have been urged not to drive, to take shelter inside and stay up high with people in the Barron catchment and Machans Beach particularly at risk.

Major flood warnings have been issued elsewhere in far north Queensland including for the Daintree River, Mossman River, Herbert River, Johnstone River Catchment, Mulgrave River, Russel River and Tully River.

Cairns airport also shut down on Sunday afternoon, with flooding levels predicted to exceed 3.8 metres.

'A further assessment will take place at 6pm,' the airport said in a statement.

'This decision has been made as we continue to work closely with authorities and stakeholders, including our airline partners.'

Jasper has now reached the waters of the Gulf of Carpentaria as a low after dumping as much as a metre of rain on parts of the state over a four-day period.

The category 2 system hit the coast north of Cairns on Wednesday night before weakening to a tropical low.

It hovered over far north Queensland including the Cape York Peninsula on Saturday and led to more rain falling on already sodden regions.

The system is slowly moving west and there is a chance Jasper may redevelop into a cyclone from Wednesday as it moves north, according to Angus Hines from the Bureau of Meteorology.

Emergency services are pleading with people to take care in the wet weather and to prepare their properties, with the SES reporting it has responded to hundreds of requests for help.

Disaster relief for people impacted by Jasper has been widened to include Yarrabah council with up to $900 available to cover the cost of essentials for large families and extra help reconnect with utilities.