Queensland on alert as Australia’s northeast braces for double cyclone hit

Two cyclones bearing down on northeastern Australia dramatically intensified on Thursday as emergency officials warned residents to take shelter on higher ground ahead of torrential rain and flooding, destructive winds and massive seas.

Cyclone Marcia is predicted to intensify to a category 4 system – the second highest rating – as it crosses the northeast Queensland coast on Friday morning with destructive winds up to 270km/h expected near the core of the system, according to the Australian Bureau of Meteorology.

“This very dangerous cyclone is now at category four intensity and continuing to intensify extremely rapidly,” the weather bureau’s latest tropical cyclone advice said.

Meteorologists also expect Cyclone Lam, with winds near the centre of 140km/h and gusts up to 195km/h is forecast to make landfall in the remote Northern Territory late Thursday or early Friday.

Lam has already forced some 350 residents to evacuate exposed offshore islands and prompted emergency officials to warn remaining residents to seek shelter on higher ground.

“Our message to Queenslanders is start getting ready now,” said state premier Annastacia Palaszczuk.

Supermarket shelves were cleared in towns in the path of Marcia as residents bunkered down at homes or in shelters erected in hospitals and schools.