Cyclone watch for Queensland

Australia's Great Barrier Reef could be under threat as Cyclone Ului moves closer to Queensland's northern coastline.

Authorities have issued a cyclone watch for coastal areas from Cardwell to Yeppoon, which includes Townsville and Mackay.

The Category 3 cyclone was estimated to be moving at a rate of 6 kilometres per hour, according to data released by Australia's Bureau of Meteorology.

WeatherWatch.co.nz head weather analyst Philip Duncan said the cyclone, expected to make landfall on Sunday morning, would seriously increase the threat of flooding in the region.

"The eye of a cyclone acts like a vacuum - creating a dome of water than can be a number of metres higher than normal," he said.

"On top of that, large swells and wind blown waves can be incredibly damaging to low lying coastal communities".

WeatherWatch.co.nz said the Great Barrier Reef could be devastated as it is vulnerable to major storms.

- NZ HERALD ONLINE