Position 4am
Details of Severe Tropical Cyclone Marcia at 4:00 am EST:
Intensity: category 5, sustained winds near the centre of 205 kilometres per hour with
wind gusts to 285 kilometres per hour.
Location: within 9 kilometres of 21.6 degrees South, 150.5 degrees East , 130 kilometres northeast of St Lawrence and 180 kilometres north of Yeppoon .
Movement: south at 13 kilometres per hour .
Severe Tropical Cyclone Marcia, category 5, is expected to continue moving in a southerly direction towards the
Queensland coast, and make landfall between St. Lawrence and Bundaberg later this morning.
A separate Severe
Weather Warning is
current to the south of Double Island Point and west to the Great Dividing Range.
Hazards:
The VERY DESTRUCTIVE
CORE of severe tropical cyclone Marcia, with gusts to 295 km/h, is expected to cross the coast between St. Lawrence and Bundaberg later this morning.
DESTRUCTIVE WINDS are expected to extend further across coastal and island communities between St. Lawrence and Gladstone this morning, and inland across the Capricornia and Burnett districts later today.
GALES are now occurring about some coastal and island communities between Sarina and Double Island Point, and are expected to extend inland to areas including Moura, Biloela, Monto and Mundubbera during Friday.
Abnormally high tides will be experienced this morning with
water levels expected to rise substantially above the highest tide of the year on the high tide. Note also that abnormally high tides are also likely during this evening's high tide in
parts of the warning area even though the cyclone is likely to be over land and weaker by then.
Coastal residents between Sarina and Double Island Point are specifically warned of the dangerous storm tide as the cyclone crosses the coast, and in the following high tide well after landfall during Friday evening. The sea is likely to rise steadily up to a level well above the normal tide, with damaging waves and flooding of some low-lying areas close to the shoreline. People living in areas likely to be affected by this flooding should take measures to protect their property as much as possible and be prepared to follow instructions regarding evacuation of the area if advised to do so by the authorities.
Dangerous surf is also expected.
Heavy rainfall is already occurring about some coastal and island communities between Mackay and Double Island Point, and is expected to extend further inland across the Capricornia, Wide Bay and Burnett, and the eastern
parts of the Central Highlands and Coalfields districts later today. A Flood Watch is
current for the area.
Recommended Action:
People between Sarina and Double Island Point should complete preparations quickly and be prepared to shelter in a safe place.
- Boats and outside property should be secured [using available daylight hours/before nightfall].
- For cyclone preparedness and
safety advice, visit Queensland's Disaster Management Services website (
www.disaster.qld.gov.au)
- For
emergency assistance call the
Queensland Fire and
Emergency Service (QFES) on 132 500 (for assistance with storm damage, rising flood
water, fallen trees on buildings or roof damage).