Emergency services are on standby in north Queensland as forecasters warn of heavy rain, flash flooding and damaging winds in and around Townsville and Mackay.

A combination of torrential rain and king tides inundated about 100 homes and closed roads in Cairns on Monday.

Bureau of Meteorology forecaster Michelle Berry said the highest falls overnight were south of Cairns.

Ingham has recorded 314mm since 9am (AEST) on Monday, Cardwell had 249mm and 237mm fell on South Mission Beach.

She said the rain would ease around Cairns and move south to Townsville and north of Sarina.

"There's possible flooding of low lying areas associated with that," she said.

"The warning is for damaging winds, very heavy rainfall and flash flooding."

King tides are also forecast for the area.

Emergency Management Queensland received 80 calls for help such as sandbagging and roof repairs overnight, including 17 calls in Townsville and 18 in Cairns.

They followed around 300 calls for help in Cairns on Monday.

Flood warnings remain current for coastal rivers and streams between Tully and Townsville, Townsville and Mackay, Diamantina River, Georgina River, Eyre Creek, Nicholson, Albert, Cloncurry, Flinders and Norman Rivers.

Residents are warned to keep away from affected areas and not to try to cross flooded roads or causeways.

Meanwhile, ex-Tropical Cyclone Charlotte was near Georgetown on Tuesday morning, moving west and bringing wind and moderate to heavy falls to areas north of Mt Isa.

But the low is expected to continue to weaken.

Rain was not expected to add to flooding around Mt Isa from last week.