Those preparations will be tested within hours, as the Category 4 cyclone is expected to move past the Whitsundays early tomorrow morning. Forecaster Bruce Gunn says they expect destructive wind gusts of up to 165 kilometres an hour."The winds will steadily pick up over the coming hours and people should be really putting their cyclone plans into action," he said.
Bruce Grady from Emergency Management Queensland says they are keeping a very close eye on islands in the Whitsundays.
He says the cyclone's winds will be strongest out to sea around the islands."South Molle Island for example has taken the decision to evacuate, but other islands have very sound infrastructure and well developed emergency plans," he said."It's considered safer to keep the people in-situ on those islands."
Residents in low lying areas around Mackay are being advised to find higher ground tonight. Authorities are concerned a storm surge combined with heavy rain and a high tide in the morning could flood many areas. (ABC.net.au)
