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Satellite image of Cyclone Tomas and Cyclone Ului - Source: Reuters -
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Tropical cyclone Ului is bearing down on Queensland's north coast and generating destructive winds of up to 140 kilometres an hour.
The cyclone is 550 kilometres northeast of Mackay and is still rated a category two system, easing fears of extensive damage in the state's coastal areas, but severe flooding in some areas is expected.
A Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) said the cyclone is travelling at a speed of 26km/h and is expected to cross the coast between Townsville and Mackay early on Sunday morning.
BoM forecaster Vikash Prasad said despite the storm being downgraded on Friday, it could still have a devastating effect when it crosses land.
"It is now a category two storm with some destructive winds at its centre," Prasad said.
Damaging winds are expected to lash areas between Townsville to Yeppoon as soon as Saturday afternoon or early evening.
Heavy rain and flooding is expected between Bowen and St Lawrence early on Sunday.
A spokeswoman for the State Emergency Services (SES) said volunteers are ready to respond and crews from around the state are ready to deploy to the affected region if required.
Tourists have been evacuated from a number of island resorts in the Whitsundays group, and boat operators have been told to stay in port.
Coal ports along the central Queensland coast have been closed and Jetstar has suspended flights to Hamilton Island over the weekend.
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