Update

TROPICAL Cyclone Marcia has stabilized within the category 4 range over the past few hours, however it is still predicted to reach category 5 status by landfall tomorrow.

At 11pm Marcia was 185km north-east of St Lawrence, where it is expected to hit the coast early tomorrow morning.

The Bureau of Meteorology still expects gale force winds to reach as far north as Bowen. 

Tropical Cyclone Marcia strengthened rapidly during Thursday, moving to a category 4 system just after 7pm.

8pm

TROPICAL Cyclone Marcia is forecast to reach category 5 at landfall tomorrow. 

Marcia, currently sitting at the stronger end of category 4, is expected to hit the coast at St Lawrence at 8am tomorrow morning.

An update from the Bureau of Meteorology at 8pm said gales are "expected north to Bowen later this evening and inland to areas including Blackwater, Moura, Biloela, Monto, Mundubbera, Taroom and Murgon overnight and Friday".

5.30pm

WHITSUNDAY Disaster management co-ordinator Scott Tellegen issued the following cyclone update this afternoon:

"Tropical Cyclone Marcia is now east of the Whitsundays and heading south west.  Cyclone Marcia can be clearly seen in the right hand side of this radar image including the eye of the cyclone:  http://www.bom.gov.au/products/IDR222.loop.shtml#skip," the statement said.

"It is still projected to impact the Capricorn Coast in the early hours of tomorrow (Friday) morning, between St. Lawrence and Gladstone.  The BoM has indicated the confidence of a continued south west track is high with a strong steering influence.  The cyclone is now predicted to be a Severe Tropical Cyclone, Category 3 at landfall."

"Therefore, it appears this cyclone will move well to the south and will not impact the Whitsunday region."

Although the cyclone won't directly impact the Whitsundays, we may get a lot of rain.

Earlier

WHITSUNDAY residents are advised to keep abreast of weather warnings, with the possibility of a cyclone crossing the Queensland coast.

A cyclone warning for the Gladstone area was issued by the Bureau of Meteorology on Wednesday due to a tropical low in the Coral Sea that may develop into a cyclone as it moves in a south-westerly direction towards the Queensland coast.

Bureau of Meteorology spokesperson Jess Carey said at this stage the system wasn't expected to track any further north than St Lawrence, keeping the Whitsundays on its northern and "least affected" side.

"But as the low moves down, it's also dragging the monsoon trough down [with it] so there's still the potential for rain, but nothing that Mackay, Airlie Beach, Bowen and Proserpine haven't seen many times before at this time of the year," he said.

The Bureau will be issuing updates on a six-hourly basis for now, and all marine operators in the Whitsunday region are advised to be ready to activate severe weather contingency plans.

The Regional Harbour Master is also monitoring the weather situation and will advise further action as necessary.