Queensland's disaster co-ordinator says authorities are ready to "press the button" as the state's north braces for the approaching Tropical Cyclone Owen hours out from landfall.
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Owen is set to intensify to a category 4 as it creeps towards the far north Queensland coast.
It was expected to cross the coast on Friday night or early Saturday morning.
The cyclone is then expected to hit the south-east Queensland with heavy rainfall, destructive winds and flash flooding from the east to south-east.
The Bureau of Meteorology has extended a warning zone from Northern Territory to Aurukun in Queensland.
BoM spokesman Richard Wardle said the severe cyclone was moving east in the Gulf of Carpentaria over warm waters and continuing to strengthen.
He said there would be a significant storm time along the coast.
"So a lot of places inland will receive that heavy rainfall, very destructive winds over the course of the next few days," he said.
Mr Wardle said heavy rainfall that could lead to flash flooding and abnormally high tides on the east coast of Queensland once the system reached the area.
Meanwhile in south-east Queensland, Mr Wardle said residents could expect showers and thunderstorms in the next coming days.
"We do have a flood watch currently for coastal catchments between the southern cape and Rainbow Beach," he said.
"There will certainly be a storm surge but we're lucky at this time of year, it will be the outgoing tide."
State disaster co-ordinator Bob Gee said they had plans in place in case the weather changes in Far North Queensland.
"We always plan for the worst and hope for the best," he said.
"A clear message to the community that's going to be impacted by the cyclone: tonight bed down, stay safe, take your medication with you, a torch and have a good idea of a place of safety, but please stay there until we tell you it's safe to come outside.
"Can I reassure the community, we are ready to press the button if there is damage or need for help as soon as we possibly can, as soon as the weather allows us to move in.
"All the agencies across the state are ready to roll."
Queensland Fire and Emergency Services Commissioner Katarina Carroll said they had received 221 requests for assistance from the SES in the past few days but expected the number to increase as the cyclone would develop.
She said there were multiple agencies with staff ready for deployment.
"From QFES alone we have an additional 60 staff, swift water, SES and emergency management coordinators and we also have two drones, particularly over the two communities that we expect to be mostly affected," she said.
"This gives us exceptional situation awareness when the event passes but it allows us to rapidly do damage assessment."
She said those affected still had a few hour left to clean their houses, check on their neighbours and to find a safe place until the event passed.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said 29 mayors were taking part in the Queensland Disaster Management Committee meeting and emergency services had door-knocked to ensure communities were ready.
"It was only a short time ago Tropical Cyclone Nora came through.
"I know the communities are well-prepared and they have had community meetings but we need everyone to be in their homes tonight, to stay safe with family and friends and please check on the vulnerable members of the community."
