Central Queensland mayors are hoping to "dodge a bullet" as tropical Cyclone Marcia bears down on the Capricorn Coast.
The massive storm is expected to bring huge downpours and gale-force winds to towns and cities between Mackay and the NSW border.
Large waves caused by the category three cyclone's swell are already beginning to pound large parts of the coast.
Local disaster committees are in "stand up" mode with emergency personnel and resources mobilised and emergency operations underway before the storm's landfall about 4am on Friday.
Livingstone Mayor Bill Ludwig's primary concern is a storm surge hitting Yeppoon at the same time as the highest tide of the year.
While destructive winds are dangerous, Mr Ludwig most fears coastal flooding.
But he's optimistic the cyclone will slow down before making landfall and then dump most rain at low tide.
"We're hoping we'll be able to dodge a big bullet this time," Mr Ludwig told AAP.
Rockhampton Mayor Margaret Strelow said local emergency services were ready, but the city is only expecting to see minor flooding.
"At this stage we're just watching and waiting," she told AAP.
At Gladstone, Mayor Gail Sellers said final preparations were in place, with two evacuation centres open in the city and nearby Agnes Water.
With strong winds, high tides and heavy rain forecast, Ms Sellers was quite concerned about people living in caravans and yachts at the local marina.
Further south in Bundaberg, Gympie and Maryborough the main concern was the possibility of flooding.
North Burnett Mayor Don Waugh said the weirs and dams around Gayndah and Burnett were full and rivers high, so any extra water would cause problems.
"We're worried extra water will go straight through the rivers," he told AAP.
"We're leaning forward, but we'll stand up this afternoon, getting ready for what could be a bit of a problem."
Acting Gympie Mayor Larry Fiske said his town had only seen a few millimetres of rain and there was "not even a hint of colour" in the Mary River on Thursday.
But he said the situation could rapidly change as the storm gets closer.
"If it's pouring in the morning you might need to assess if you really need to drive or whether it's better to stay home and count the socks in the drawer," Mr Fiske told AAP.
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