The circulation around Tropical Cyclone Marcia is organizing rapidly as it moves toward eastern Australia.  An eye is apparent on visible satellite imagery and Marcia rapidly intensified to hurricane intensity.  At 1:00 a.m. EST on Thursday the center of Marcia was located at latitude 20.5°S and longitude 151.0°E which put it about 125 miles east-northeast of Mackay and about 180 miles north-northeast of Yeppoon, Australia.  Marcia was moving toward the west-southwest at 16 m.p.h.  The maximum sustained wind speed was 95 m.p.h. and there were gusts to 135 m.p.h.  The minimum surface pressure was 956 mb.

Marcia has developed an eye and thunderstorms completely surround it.  The core of Marcia is symmetrical which indicates a well organized storm.  As Marcia moved toward the southwest, it moved west of the strongest upper level winds, which reduced the vertical wind shear.  Marcia was over warm Sea Surface Temperatures and the more favorable environment allowed it to intensify quickly.  It will remain in a favorable environment until it makes landfall and further intensification is possible.

Marcia is near the western end of a subtropical ridge which is steering it to the southwest.  Once the system moves inland, it is likely to move in more of a southerly direction, but it should be weaker by that time.

Marcia could make landfall in around 12 hours near the Northumberland Isles between Mackay and Yeppoon.  The rapid organization of the circulation increased the destructive potential of Marcia.  It is strong enough to cause wind damage and it could cause a storm surge near where the center makes landfall.  The stronger circulation could also produce locally heavy rainfall and the potential for flooding as it moves inland.