The sixth named storm of the 1985–86 Australian region cyclone season, Winifred originated as a tropical low north of Cairns, Queensland on 27 January 1986.

Meandering southward, the cyclone began to curve southeastward that evening before suddenly turning toward the coast, southwestward, on 31 January, steadily intensifying in that time.

By the time it came ashore near Silkwood, Queensland at 0445 UTC on 1 February, it was producing Category 3-force winds on the Australian tropical cyclone intensity scale and a minimum atmospheric pressure of 957 mbar (28.38 inHg).

In advance of Winifred's approach, the Australian Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) issued cyclone watches and warnings for various locations along the Queensland coast, prompting evacuations in several towns.

[nb 2] In the aftermath of the cyclone, the Australian government distributed financial and emergency aid, offering to provide assistance to hard-hit banana and sugar cane farmers in northern Queensland.

The Department of Social Security (DSS) sent employees to receive claims for damage, requests for financial aid, and filings for unemployment benefits.

In the confusion in the days following the cyclone, looters stole possessions in areas within the vicinity of Innisfail, and relief efforts were impeded by thunderstorms at Cairns.

The Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) was subject to heavy criticism in the days following the storm's landfall, accused of not giving ample warning in advance of Winifred's approach; however, these concerns were later addressed in its report on the cyclone's impact.

The origins of Cyclone Winifred can be traced to a tropical low first noted approximately 450 mi (720 km) north of Cairns, Queensland on 27 January 1986.

Observations gathered by the Geostationary Meteorological Satellite (GMS) on 30 January evidenced that the low had developed into a tropical cyclone while maintaining a minimum atmospheric pressure of 995 mbar (29.38 inHg).

[8] Drifting father inland, Winifred's radar features became distorted as it weakened; despite this, it lingered overland as a tropical depression for another five days before finally dissipating.

[12] State Emergency Service (SES) members and other individuals worked to evacuate dozens of people in Ingham, as well as along the Tully, Burdekin, and Herbert rivers.

[10] Throughout Queensland, the cyclone isolated small towns, cut off telephone service, inflicted severe damage to crops, and generated widespread flooding.

Between Cairns and Ingham, Winifred obliterated structures, toppled power lines, uprooted trees, wrecked 1000 homes, and damaged hundreds of others.

[13] At Innisfail, Winifred damaged 190 houses, downed electrical wires, overturned trees, and flooded lowlands,[14] with reports of over 200 mm (7.9 in) in rainfall.

[12] The cyclone drove a small vessel ashore at nearby Banana Island;[10] in addition, a teenage girl was severely impaled by a flying slab of iron in downtown Innisfail,[13] later dying as a result of her injuries.

[17] The city of Cairns and its outskirts experienced power outages, and high tides nearby compelled ship owners to seek refuge at ports.

Although no structural damage was recorded in Herberton, the cyclone uprooted trees, crippled Archer Bridge above Kennedy Creek, and halted electrical and telephone service.

Despite the fact that flooding was less serious at Kurrimine Beach, the storm still damaged dozens of houses and toppled electrical poles, with the towns of Ravenshoe and Silkwood experiencing power outages following the disturbance's passage.

[12] On 3 February, the head of the State Emergency Service (SES) and then-Premier Joh Bjelke-Petersen toured northern Queensland to inspect damage.

[22] Approximately 500 volunteers for the SES were deployed the same day, reinstating electrical and other essential services, evacuating regional citizens,[13] delivering bread to numerous towns,[14] and sending 700 tarpaulins to shield roofless houses.

[17] Rescue and relief work was hindered by high traffic on telephone networks, forcing Telecom to cease calls between Townsville and Ingham.

[13] Emergency crews of the government's Department of Social Security (DSS) visited locations throughout the region, receiving damage claims, requests for monetary aid, and filings for unemployment benefits.

[23] The Commonwealth pledged to provide $150 million in relief over a three-year period to the government of Queensland in exchange for deregulation; however, its offer was initially rejected.

However, a Flash Tropical Cyclone Advice was immediately issued shortly thereafter, reaching media outlets near noon that day.