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Cyclone Debbie turns towards coast, likely to strengthen to category four

Toby Crockford
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Tropical Cyclone Debbie is expected to cross the coast between Townsville and Proserpine on Tuesday morning, most likely as a category four system, generating winds of more than 260 kilometres an hour.

An updated warning from the weather bureau just before 5pm on Saturday changed the warning zone to extend from Ayr to St Lawrence and a highlighted a new watch zone covering areas between Cairns and Ayr.

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Tropical Cyclone Debbie explained

This severe weather update from the Bureau of Meteorology provides information on Tropical Cyclone Debbie in the Coral Sea.

There is now a strong warning of high tides and tidal surges between Lucinda and Mackay.

"Based on the current forecast track, abnormally high tides are expected to occur between at least Lucinda and Mackay as the cyclone approaches the coast. Large waves may also develop along the beachfront," the Bureau of Meteorology reported around 7pm.

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Destructive winds were expected, as well as major structural damage, dangerous airborne debris, wide-spread power outages and flooding.

However, BoM Queensland regional director Bruce Gunn couldn't rule out the possibility of the cyclone becoming a category five, depending on how long it stayed over the ocean, and said there was also the possibility of the system increasing speed and making landfall as early as Sunday night.

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Tropical Cyclone Debbie developed into a category one system on Saturday morning, having turned back towards the north Queensland coast.

Meanwhile, queues several kilometres long have formed in north Queensland, as residents clean up and head to the dump, ahead of Tropical Cyclone Debbie's arrival.

A video posted on Twitter showed a traffic jam on the side of the road about midday, leading up to Hervey Range Landfill, west of Townsville.

"It's really good that everyone is tidying up though, being safe," a woman can be heard saying in the video.

"It's getting pretty crazy, I think we've got the police out here as well."

Weatherzone: Queensland radar

Linda Neilly, a resident of Alice River near Townsville, said it was the calm before the storm at her home on Saturday afternoon, with clear and sunny conditions overhead.

However, locals weren't as calm as the weather, with residents stocking up on supplies before the cyclone arrived.

"There is a feeling of slight anxiety, everyone is standing together and knows what has to be done because we're quite used to being prepared for cyclones," Ms Neilly said.

"We've been getting the cyclone kit ready and filling up our bathtub to make sure we have enough water. 

"We bought a generator and the guy at the Honda store said he was getting smashed and had nearly run out of stock."

It was a similar story at a nearby supermarket, with locals clearing the shelves in preparation.

IGA SUPA Garbutt manager Pirjo Hahling said vegetables, baked beans, spaghetti, water and batteries had flown off the shelves.

Ms Hahling said she was confident the supermarket wouldn't run out of stock completely thanks to a delivery truck arriving on Saturday, but non-perishables were being snapped up and may be sold out.

Meanwhile, Ms Neilly said it was important the local community banded together during the tense time to ensure no one was alone when the cyclone hit.

She had offered to take in other residents who felt their older houses maybe at risk and anyone who didn't have family nearby.

​Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk urged residents in the general warning area, a 1000-kilometre stretch from Cape Tribulation to St Lawrence, to prepare while the weather was favourable.

"We don't know at this stage where the potential cyclone is going to cross land.

"I understand up north today the weather conditions are fine, everything is calm and there are blues skies.

"This is the time that you should now be preparing."

Ms Palaszczuk said extra emergency services staff had been sent across the region and a decision would be made on Sunday whether to close schools.

After a meeting of the Queensland Disaster Management Committee, Ms Palaszczuk reassured residents "everything that can be done, is being done".

SES director Steve Hallam said on Friday, emergency services were undertaking "a large amount of preparation" in northern Queensland, with crews checking plans, equipment and making sure everything was ready to go.

The Queensland Fire Service sent reinforcements to the affected area, including swift water and urban rescue teams, damage assessment teams as well as additional SES crews.

Mr Hallam encouraged local residents to check their emergency plans, ensure their emergency kit was ready and fully stocked with food, water, clothing, medications, important documents, valuables as well as a battery-powered radio and torch.

He also said to refill gas supplies, ensure yards were clear, check any loose branches and secure loose items such as trampolines and outdoor settings.

"The more people can do now to be prepared, the less impact the weather event will have on them," Mr Hallam said.

Meanwhile a Townsville motorbike club has planned a cyclone party over the weekend, which saw nine travellers check-in to a local caravan park especially for the party.

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