The Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) upgraded the severe storm to a category two cyclone on Thursday night. The BOM report that the monsoon trough extends over the northern Coral Sea with Tropical Cyclone Dylan currently located off the tropical Queensland coast. It is moving westwards and is expected to make landfall early Friday morning.

At 1:00 pm EST, Tropical Cyclone Dylan was located about 125 nautical miles northeast of Townsville and 155 nautical miles north of Proserpine. Centre located near 17.8S 148.4E. Recent movement has been towards the west southwest at 7 knots and may bring dangerous storm tides, heavy rain, flash flooding and storm gusts of up to 150km/h.

Whitsunday Mayor Jenny Whitney said the council is now urging people in low-lying areas to evacuate before the king tide on Friday morning.

Gales and torrential rain are battering areas from Cardwell to St Lawrence and winds are expected to intensify between Lucinda and St Lawrence on Thursday night and Friday morning.

Heavy rain, which may lead to flash flooding, is expected from Herbert and Lower Burdekin and the Central Coast and Whitsunday Districts.

Coastal residents between Lucinda and St Lawrence, including Townsville are being warned of a dangerous storm tide, particularly Friday morning.

“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,” the weather bureau said in a statement.

A separate severe weather warning is in place for coastal and island communities from Cooktown to Cardwell and from St Lawrence to Gladstone.

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