Queenslanders are being told to prepare for the worst, after Cyclone Marcia dramatically intensified.
The tropical cyclone was upgraded from a category 1 storm to a category 3 on Thursday. Forecasters and authorities are warning it could intensify to a category 4 storm, with winds up to 270kph, by the time it crosses the coastline.
On Thursday evening, a cyclone warning extended from Bowen in the state’s mid-north to Double Island Point in the south east, about 200km north of Brisbane.
Cyclone Marcia is expected to hit the coast at about 3am on Friday morning; the impact zone predicted to be between St Lawrence and Gladstone.
Up to 300ml of rainfall and severe winds are expected to cause damage and flooding as far south as Brisbane, the Gold Coast and the northern most areas of the NSW coast. On Thursday evening, minor electricity blackouts were being reported in some areas of Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast.
IMAGE: Sever Tropical Cyclone Marcia satellite photo. (Bom/Nasa)