Strong Tropical Cyclone Marcia made landfall a few hours ago on the east coast of Australia northwest of Yeppoon in Queensland.  Marcia is moving roughly parallel to the coast about 25 miles inland from the Pacific Ocean.  At 9:00 p.m. EST on Thursday the center of Tropical Cyclone Marcia was located at latitude 22.9°S and longitude 150.5°E which put it about 25 miles northwest of Yeppoon, about 85 miles northwest of Gladstone and about 340 miles north-northwest of Brisbane, Australia.  Marcia was moving toward the south at 12 m.p.h.  The maximum sustained wind speed was 110 m.p.h. and there were gusts to 150 m.p.h.  The minimum surface pressure was 948 mb.

Marcia is beginning to weaken.  It will initially weaken slowly because it is still near the ocean and the circulation has well developed upper level outflow.  As Marcia moves farther south, it will encounter more vertical wind shear.  Increased wind shear and more time over land, will speed up the rate of weakening in 12 to 24 hours.

Marcia is still strong enough to contain damaging winds.  The center of circulation will pass near Rockhampton in a few hours.  It could produce a significant storm surge on the portion of the coast where the winds are blowing toward the coastline.  Marcia could also generate locally heavy rainfall and the potential for flooding.