Police working with Bundaberg District Disaster Management Group are ready and prepared to support the Bundaberg and North Burnett Regional Councils in preparation for Tropical Cyclone Marcia.
Tropical Cyclone Marcia is coming into radar range, still on track to cross the Capricorn coast in 24 hours. Movement is currently southwest at 27 kilometres per hour. Tropical Cyclone Marcia has been moving through the Coral Sea towards the Queensland coast in a southwesterly direction. The cyclone is expected to maintain this general motion through to landfall on the eastern Queensland coast between St Lawrence and Bundaberg early on Friday. Tropical Cyclone Marcia has been intensifying over the past 24 hours, and this trend is expected to continue with a likely intensity of Category 2 before landfall.
Tropical Cyclone Marcia, Category 1, with gusts up to 120 km/h should cross the coast between St Lawrence and Bundaberg. Destructive winds of up to 150 km/hr may develop about the coast and islands near the centre on Friday morning. Gales are expected to develop about coastal and island communities between Mackay and Double Island Point, and adjacent inland areas from Mackay to Monto, during today in the late afternoon or evening.
Abnormally high tides will be experienced today and Friday with water levels expected to rise above the highest tide of the year on the high tide. 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 expected about exposed beaches south of Sandy Cape. Thunderstorms are expected to develop near the coast later this morning and through this afternoon between St Lawrence and Hervey Bay. These thunderstorms may produce localised areas of destructive wind gusts in excess of 125 km/hr about coastal and island communities.
Prepare your emergency kit, home, pets and check on your neighbours.
Find out more from QLD Alert.
