Cyclone Marcia approaches Queensland coast

Communities along the Queensland coast are bracing for wind gusts of almost 300 kilometres per hour and torrential rain, as Cyclone Marcia intensifies to a category five storm.

Stefan Armbruster tweets: Awoke to howling wind, emergency evacuation orders for Yeppoon area. Tide surge warning 2.5 metres above highest level.

Communities along the Queensland coast are bracing for wind gusts of almost 300 kilometres per hour and torrential rain, as Cyclone Marcia intensifies to a category five storm.

It's expected to make landfall between the towns of St Lawrence and Gladstone later this morning.

SBS Queensland correspondent Stefan Armbruster is in Yeppoon and he is speaking to Darren Mara.

(Click on the audio tab above to hear the full interview)