Aussie tourists evacuated as cyclone downgraded

Tourists have been evacuated from a number of Great Barrier Reef resorts, as tropical cyclone Ului was downgraded to a category two system.

The cyclone is expected to cross the coast between Bowen and Airlie Beach early Sunday morning.

Many of the resorts in the Whitsundays, a group of 74 islands, have been evacuated, but a number of the larger ones including Hamilton and Hayman have cyclone-proof facilities for visitors.

A South Molle Island resort staffer told AAP there were only staff on the island at present, with the resort due to reopen next week.

"Staff are prepared for anything," she said.

The Bureau of Meteorology reported at 11am on Friday that a cyclone watch continued for coastal areas from Cardwell to Yeppoon.

The cyclone is about 950km east-northeast of Mackay and 1100km east-northeast of Townsville and moving southwest towards the Queensland coast at 13km/h.

"It now appears unlikely that the cyclone will reintensify," the bureau said.

"The most likely scenario is for the cyclone to cross the coast Sunday morning between Cardwell and Mackay and it may remain at category two intensity by landfall."

The coast between Cardwell and Yeppoon can expect damaging winds on Saturday, increasing on Sunday morning.

Seas and swell are expected to increase along much of the Queensland east coast.

Wind gusts near the centre of the cyclone have been estimated at 155km/h.

Southern Queensland is also expected to receive strong winds and rain.

- AAP