Savage weather leaves 41,000 without power just days before Cyclone Kirrily is set to smash Australia's east coast - here's when the category three storm will hit

Cyclone  Kirrily to strike Queensland on ThursdayA 'severe impact' is likely if it crosses near Townsville READ MORE: Heatwave and cyclone to strike - What you need to know 

Savage storms have left tens of thousands without power just days before a cyclone is set to batter Australia’s east coast.

Over 41,000 properties in southeastern Queensland were plunged into darkness on Monday night due to damaging winds and heavy downpours.

That figure had dropped to 38,312 homes by 7.15pm, with 12,687 customers affected in Brisbane and 13,643 without power in Moreton Bay area.

The severe storms could possibly lead to flash flooding near northern Lake Wivenhoe and Somerset Dam.

It comes just days before Cyclone Kirrily is expected to strike Australia’s east coast on Thursday as authorities warn the storm will wreak havoc.

In a dramatic update on Monday afternoon, Queensland Premier Steven Miles said the storm will become a tropical cyclone on Tuesday.

North Queensland is still cleaning up from Cyclone Jasper which lashed the region a few week ago, causing widespread flooding and power outages.

Authorities believe the developing Cyclone Kirrily (pictured) is expected to hit land between Innisfail and Airlie Beach, south of Cairns on Thursday

It is then expected to make landfall between Innisfail and Airlie Beach, south of Cairns, on Thursday.

‘Severe impact is likely, especially if crossing occurs near or south of Townsville,’ Mr Miles said during a press conference.

‘Preparations by our disaster Management team are well under way.’

Queenslanders have been urged to keep up to date with warnings from both local councils and the state government over the next 72 hours.

The Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) predicted the storm to become a category one cyclone by Tuesday morning after developing in the Coral Sea.

The cyclone is expected to continue intensifying once it becomes a tropical cyclone and reach category three by Wednesday.

An office worker in Brisbane attempts to shield himself from the deluge

A BOM spokesperson told media on Monday that ‘severe tropical cyclone impacts’ are expected for communities in North Queensland as the cyclone grows to a category three.

‘Gales with damaging wind gusts up to 120km/h may develop about coastal and island communities between Ayr and St Lawrence and that is from as early as Wednesday morning,’ the spokesperson said.

‘That could extend beyond Wednesday into other areas as that system moves closer.’

Heavy rainfall and flash flooding is also ‘likely’ as the system crosses onto land.

The cyclone is expected to start travelling south where it could drop heavy rainfall on central and southeast Queensland.

It is then predicted to most inland and lose power on Friday before returning back to a low pressure system.

A woman shelters from the rain under an umbrella while crossing a street in Sydney last year

Queensland Premier Steven Miles (pictured) said a ‘Severe impact is likely’ if the cyclone crosses land south of Townsville

Queensland Police’s Deputy Commissioner Shane Chelepy urged Queenslanders to take precautionary survival steps before the cyclone hits.

He recommended people have up to three-days worth of long-life food and power for a phone as it can take ‘up to 72 hours sometimes before emergency services can assist’ during a cyclone.

Those wishing to travel for Australia Day on Friday have also been urged to stay up to date with the latest government weather warnings.

‘We do know it is a public holiday this Friday and we are aware that a lot of people will be on our roads and camping at our campgrounds, simply stay connected,’ Mr Chelepy said.

While the cyclone is expected to cross land in Northern Queensland, most of the state could also be affected as it turns into a low pressure system.

The wild weather comes as the Bureau of Meteorology issues an extreme heatwave warning for large swathes of Australia.

Temperatures are expected to reach the low to mid-40s in the northwestern pastoral district of South Australia.

Adelaide is expected to see its hottest day of the week on Tuesday with a high of 39C and a low of 21C.

A severe heatwave will affect parts of Brisbane (above) with high cloud coverage, a tropical low and ocean heat worsening the humidity

‘Adelaide will see heat tomorrow (Tuesday) due to a trough moving over the region, bringing very hot northerly winds. It will be a dry heat,’ Weatherzone meteorologist Yoska Hernández said.

Fortunately, the maximum temperature will drop to 34C on Wednesday as clouds move over the city ahead of rain on Thursday.

Parts of New South Wales are also expected to swelter in the coming days.

Areas in the north of the state, including Moree, could reach temperatures in the high 30s and low 40s.

Ms Hernández warned heatwave conditions over Sydney could remain through to next weekend.

‘Sydney is set to see heat on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday next week before a cool change moves over on Saturday,’ she said.

The city’s hottest day is set to fall on Friday with a high of 36C.