The eye of Cyclone Debbie is about to hit the Whitsunday Islands off the north Queensland coast, as the mainland towns of Proserpine and Airlie Beach take a battering.
Debbie remains a category four - the worst cyclone to hit Queensland in six years - and is packing sustained winds near the centre of 175km/h, and gusts of up to 250km/h.
Those taking shelter on the island say the wind is so strong brick buildings are vibrating, and the wind sounds like a series of fright trains charging through.
Debbie is now expected to make landfall on the mainland from midday on Tuesday, hours later than originally expected, but the storm's ferocity is already being felt, Police Commissioner Ian Stewart says.
Mr Stewart said the cyclone's very slow march towards the coast meant a very long and dangerous time ahead for people in and around the expected landfall site just to the south of the coastal town of Bowen.
Queensland authorities are warning people not to be lulled into a false sense of security once the eye of Cyclone Debbie has passed.
25,000 people in low-lying areas in the Queensland north coast have been urged to head to higher ground.
Authorities are expecting tidal surges and flash flooding to cut major roads as the cyclone approaches the coast.
