Families flee ‘cyclone sandwich’

Communities in Queensland and the Northern Territory are battening down as two separate cyclones approach.

Storm clouds gather over the Gold Coast as Cyclone Marcia approaches. Source: News Corp Australia

FIERCE winds have torn trees out by their roots and hundreds of families have fled their homes as a "cyclone sandwich" approaches the north of Australia.

Both Cyclone Lam and Cyclone Marcia have strengthened into category three cyclones, and the latter is expected to become a category four by the time it hits.

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk and the Bureau of Meteorology have warned Marcia's wind gusts could reach 270km/h when it makes landfall.

Cyclone Lam is approaching the Northern Territory, while Cyclone Marcia is heading for Queensland. Source: Supplied

"Abnormally high tides are expected today and tomorrow, with levels above the highest tide of the year with flooding of low areas likely," the Bureau said this afternoon.

"Widespread rainfall totals between 100-300mm are forecast, with the heaviest falls expected within coastal catchments. Higher localised falls are possible, as is localised flash flooding."

Cyclone Marcia is now a category three system, and is likely to be upgraded again before it hits land.

There is already no water or power in some Northern Terrority communities, where ferocious gales have already reached 140km/h - with gusts of 190km/h expected later tonight - and hundreds of residents have been evacuated.

At a press conference, the Northern Territory's acting Police Commissioner Reece Kershaw said he expected Cyclone Lam to make landfall during low tide, but was nevertheless preparing for potential flooding.

"We have a number of teams who will be ready to deploy at short notice," he said.

Emergency services are going from door-to-door in NT towns, including Maningrida, to warn of gale force winds. Four hundred people have been evacuated so far, 350 of whom have been taken to Darwin.

Goulburn Island residents have begun evacuation to Darwin ahead of the arrival of Cylone Lam.

Early images show Cyclone Marcia already affecting the Gold Coast. Picture: David Clark Source: News Corp Australia

Trees and branches strewn across the ground in Galiwinku as Cyclone Lam approaches. Pic from Elcho Island resident Jazlie Grygoruk. Source: Supplied

Earlier this afternoon, supermarket shelves were cleared in Queensland as frightened locals grabbed emergency supplies and bunkered down at their homes or at shelters in hospitals or schools.

Both cyclones are currently expected to make landfall around 3am.

Volunteers help feed the residents of Goulburn Island after the evacuation. Source: News Corp Australia

"It has got really bad here now, we are losing trees all over the place," Diana Roper told ABC News Darwin from a public shelter on Elcho Island.

Warruwi resident Marcustold AAP: "When the lightning strikes, it's a thump and then everything explodes".

Coastal residents between St Lawrence and Hervey Bay in Queensland have been warned of a dangerous storm tide, with damaging waves and flooding of low-lying areas predicted.

A BoM graphic shows Marcia's expected path. Source: Supplied

Category three Cylone Lam approaching the NT. Source: Supplied

The Bureau of Meteorology has told households to protect their properties and be ready to evacuate if advised to do so.

Marcia has been intensifying as it moves southwest through the Coral Sea towards Queensland, where it is expected to make landfall between St Lawrence and Bundaberg.

Dangerous surf is expected around the exposed beaches south of Sandy Cape, as well as thunderstorms before the cyclone hits the coast.

Heavy rainfall will develop around coastal and island communities between Mackay and Double Island Point today, with the area already on flood watch.

Meanwhile, the BoM forecasts Lam will reach category four before crossing the coast early tomorrow.

Northern Territory police confirmed today that Goulburn Island, 300km east of Darwin, was being evacuated.

At present, sustained winds near the centre have reached 140km/h, with gusts of 195km/h. Gales are forecast between Elcho Island and Nhulunbuy this morning.

Queensland is expecting its worst weather event in two years, with Marcia bringing with it the threat of wind and rainfall reminiscent of those that brought devastation in the 2011 floods, and again in 2012.

Surfers Paradise braces for Cyclone Marcia's arrival. Picture: Kit Wise Source: News Corp Australia

Preparations underway to protect the Gold Coast. Picture: David Clark Source: News Corp Australia

Satellite pictures of tropical storm headed for the Queensland coast. Picture: NASA/Modis Source: Supplied

Where Cyclone Marcia has been, and is expected to go. Source: CourierMail

The state is bracing for a hammering with the category-two cyclone bringing floods, a tidal surge and beach erosion which is already being felt ahead of the worst of Marcia.

Beaches were closed along the coast yesterday and sandbagging had already begun last night as the tropical low loomed, and rescue crews are preparing for the worst.

Coastal residents are warned of the dangerous storm tide as the cyclone crosses the coast.

"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," a BoM statement said.

"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."

Queensland Fire and Emergency Services Deputy Commissioner Mark Roche said it was vital for residents to prepare for severe weather now.

"Check your house, in particular the roof, is in good condition, keep branches clear of the house, clean gutters and clear your property of debris," Mr Roche said.

A major stretch of the Queensland coast will be saturated by heavy rain when the tropical low crosses the coast today.

Residents from St Lawrence, north of Rockhampton, to the NSW border have been warned to expect destructive winds, rough seas and abnormally high tides.

Some Gold Coast beaches were closed today due to large surf. Picture: Jerad Williams Source: News Corp Australia

THE RAINS ARE COMING

Up to 500mm of rain is expected to fall in some areas over coming days.

But Queensland Fire and Rescue Service Commissioner Katarina Carroll said crews were well prepared.

"We've looked at the event from St Lawrence downwards, so we have got swift water rescue staff pre-positioned in many of those areas because we've got well over 200 (emergency service workers) trained for this," she said.

Authorities have repeatedly urged residents not to enter floodwaters.

QFES spokesman Peter Jeffrey said most areas would receive around 300mm rainfall, and warned winds had picked up in the past 12 hours.

"Given the current rate of progress of the cyclone we've got some opportunity to make some final preparations," he said.

"Given the speed the wind is now getting up to there's still an opportunity to make sure there's nothing loose around the back yard. Localised flooding is expected so the key message as always is if it's flooded forget it, it's too unsafe, you don't know what's going on underneath that water."

Up to 6m swells are expected across the coast. Picture: Luke Marsden. Source: News Corp Australia

DOUBLE-PRONGED THREAT

Lam is currently rated a Category 3, but is expected to intensify into a Category 4 system before it hits. The cyclone is already powerful, with wind gusts up to 195km/h.

The cyclone is north northwest of the NT's fifth largest town of Nhulunbuy where locals have already begun queuing for essentials and emergency shelters are open.

Empty shelves at Woolworths in the town centre. Source: News Corp Australia

While it is unlikely the cyclone will cross the coast at any major towns, there are a number of Aboriginal communities in the area that could face the full front of the system.

Police have warned people to stay away from waterways, to avoid driving into water of an unknown depth, to stay away from fallen powerlines, and to create their own sandbags out of whatever bags or material is at hand to stave off rising waters.

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