Communities along the Queensland coast are bracing for wind gusts of almost 300kmh and torrential rain with predictions Cyclone Marcia will make landfall as a category five storm.
The storm was about 155km northeast of St Lawrence just before 2am (AEST) on Friday and was expected to make landfall between St Lawrence and Gladstone about 10am, with warnings areas between the two towns could be battered by gusts up to 295km/h as it nears the coast.
Marcia rapidly gained intensity on Thursday before slowing down later that night, however, the weather bureau still predicts it will develop into a category five storm before making landfall.
The Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) says it is creating wind gusts up to 270km/h and is expected to impact a large area of the central and southeast coast on Friday.
A severe weather warning is in place from Double Island Point south to the NSW border and inland to the Great Dividing Range, with strong winds and torrential rain predicted to impact parts of the central and the entire southeast coast on Friday.
Gales and heavy rain were already being felt along the Capricornia Coast and inland areas and heavy rain has been reported between Mackay and Double Island Point.
Destructive winds are expected to hit coastal areas from Mackay to Burnett Heads as well as inland areas on Friday.
Queensland Fire and Emergency Services has issued an alert warning for coastal residents in the Isaac region to leave immediately or seek shelter in a safe place.
Ogmore and Marlborough residents have been told urgent evacuation is strongly recommended, and a storm tide watch and act warning has been issued for some areas in Gladstone.
Residents between Mackay and Double Island Point are being told to prepare to shelter in a safe place, while all those in affected areas are being warned to ensure large items in their yards are secure.
The weather bureau has been warning of dangerous surf, abnormally high tides and heavy rainfall from central Queensland to the southeast coast.
A flood watch warning is current for areas from Rockhampton south to the NSW border.
On Thursday, the Department of Education issued a list of more than 100 schools and childcare centres that will be closed on Friday.
Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk held a meeting of the Disaster Management Committee in Brisbane on Thursday where she and several of her new ministers were briefed by emergency authorities.
Cyclone centres have been opened in Yeppoon, Proserpine, Mackay and St Lawrence.
Rockhampton Airport will be closed until at least Friday afternoon and other airports are expected to close.
SEQ Water has advised a number of catchments including the Wapa, Enoggera, Ewen Maddock, Gold Creek and Little Nerang dams have reached a level where they may pose a hazard to the safety of people or property downstream.
Torrential rain is expected hit the entire southeast coast on Friday, with up to 400mm predicted in some areas, as the storm tracks south.
