Northland families hunkering down in Cyclone Debbie

A tree is blown down in heavy winds in Mackay, Queensland, during Cyclone Debbie. Photo/ABC

Two Northland families caught up in a tropical cyclone lashing east Queensland are hunkered down in their homes until Thursday, waiting for the storm to pass over.

Whangarei born and bred Pania Yorke, her partner, and their two teenage children live in Farleigh, a rural town 11km northwest of Mackay, which was not evacuated during Tropical Cyclone Debbie.

Another Whangarei woman, Jana Wilson, and her 9-year-old son, Riley, live in Mackay and said they have had a lot of rain and wind since Sunday afternoon.

The category 4 cyclone is the worst Queensland has seen in at least six years, packing winds up to 232km/h on Hamilton Islands and coastal towns.

Ms Yorke's family has been living in Farleigh for four years and own a post shop on the bottom floor and live upstairs.

She said fortunately they were not near the eye of the cyclone but it was still scary for someone who has never experienced a tropical cyclone.

"It's been a long night that's for sure and it hasn't crossed land yet. Cyclone Bola was bad but this is terrifying. Whatever happens I'm sure we will see amazing community spirit during the aftermath, just hope everyone survived the night without major damage.

"There's been heaps of cyclone warnings before but they sort of fizzled out but this one packs heavy rain and powerful winds and it's actually quite scary.

"We haven't had any damage apart from some trees on our property that have been uprooted. The power has not been disrupted which is good and we don't have concerns about our home being flooded."

She said her family would be huddled in their house until Thursday at least because there was no way they would venture out before the rain and winds died down.

Ms Wilson, a barista who moved to Mackay eight months ago, said since she was not sure what to expect as it was her first cyclone, she was well prepared.

"It has become extremely windy, a roaring, swirling wind and rain as the cyclone makes its way down from Airlie Beach about one hour north of us.

"We have been extremely lucky in Mackay, unlike the poor people in Airlie Beach and Bowen who bore the brunt of Cyclone Debbie."

She lives in a white zone classed as safe because the subdivision is new and the houses are built to withstand storms, even though they are situated about 1km from the sea,

MetService said a low associated with Tropical Cyclone Debbie could head towards Northland but not until early next week.