Gumleaf
February 19th, 2015, 04:41 AM
Updated: 8:17 pm, Thursday, 19 February 2015
Severe tropical Cyclone Marcia is expected to intensify and make landfall in Queensland as a category five system.
Queenslanders are being warned to brace for wild and dangerous conditions brought on by the rapidly-intensifying cyclone.
The severe tropical system has intensified to category 4 and continues to approach the Queensland coast.
Marcia is moving at 26km/hr and is set to cross the coast somewhere between Mackay and Gladstone about 4am AEST on Friday.
Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk held a meeting of the Disaster Management Committee at the Emergency Operations Centre in Brisbane's north on Thursday afternoon where she and several of her new ministers were briefed by emergency authorities.'It is important all Queenslanders brace themselves for heavy rain,' she said.'This is a serious event. It has changed drastically since this morning.'
The premier said the meeting's key point stressed that the safety of Queenslanders was the priority.'Queenslanders need to be prepared now,' she said.'This is an important time now not to panic but to make sure you have your preparations in place.'
The bureau has been warning of dangerous surf, abnormally high tides and heavy rainfall from central Queensland to the southeast coast.
Mr Webb warned Marcia would take longer to die down once it crosses the coast, given its growing intensity. 'At this stage we think it will cap off at a category four but we need to keep monitoring the situation,' he said. 'It's one of those times now, it's time to stay indoors, don't travel unless you have to travel.'
Category four cyclones can feature gale-force winds of up to 260km/h, cause significant roof and structural damage, overturn caravans and trailers, generate dangerous airborne debris and trigger widespread blackouts.
Ms Palaszczuk said cyclone centres had been opened in Yeppoon, Proserpine and Mackay and people should be aware airports were likely to close. She said parents would be advised of school closures early Friday morning.
The bureau has begun to issue hourly updates on the cyclone and Ms Palaszczuk said it was vital residents stayed close to a radio.
SEQ Water has advised the Wappa Dam, just inland from the Sunshine Coast, is completely full, meaning forecasted rainfall will significantly swell the Maroochy River.
AAP - See more at: http://www.skynews.com.au/news/top-stories/2015/02/19/queensland-readies-for-cyclone-marcia.html#sthash.NqZxYlNR.dpuf
Severe tropical Cyclone Marcia is expected to intensify and make landfall in Queensland as a category five system.
Queenslanders are being warned to brace for wild and dangerous conditions brought on by the rapidly-intensifying cyclone.
The severe tropical system has intensified to category 4 and continues to approach the Queensland coast.
Marcia is moving at 26km/hr and is set to cross the coast somewhere between Mackay and Gladstone about 4am AEST on Friday.
Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk held a meeting of the Disaster Management Committee at the Emergency Operations Centre in Brisbane's north on Thursday afternoon where she and several of her new ministers were briefed by emergency authorities.'It is important all Queenslanders brace themselves for heavy rain,' she said.'This is a serious event. It has changed drastically since this morning.'
The premier said the meeting's key point stressed that the safety of Queenslanders was the priority.'Queenslanders need to be prepared now,' she said.'This is an important time now not to panic but to make sure you have your preparations in place.'
The bureau has been warning of dangerous surf, abnormally high tides and heavy rainfall from central Queensland to the southeast coast.
Mr Webb warned Marcia would take longer to die down once it crosses the coast, given its growing intensity. 'At this stage we think it will cap off at a category four but we need to keep monitoring the situation,' he said. 'It's one of those times now, it's time to stay indoors, don't travel unless you have to travel.'
Category four cyclones can feature gale-force winds of up to 260km/h, cause significant roof and structural damage, overturn caravans and trailers, generate dangerous airborne debris and trigger widespread blackouts.
Ms Palaszczuk said cyclone centres had been opened in Yeppoon, Proserpine and Mackay and people should be aware airports were likely to close. She said parents would be advised of school closures early Friday morning.
The bureau has begun to issue hourly updates on the cyclone and Ms Palaszczuk said it was vital residents stayed close to a radio.
SEQ Water has advised the Wappa Dam, just inland from the Sunshine Coast, is completely full, meaning forecasted rainfall will significantly swell the Maroochy River.
AAP - See more at: http://www.skynews.com.au/news/top-stories/2015/02/19/queensland-readies-for-cyclone-marcia.html#sthash.NqZxYlNR.dpuf