WEATHER: MARCIA, MARCIA, MARCIA!

Cyclone Marcia is closing in on the Queensland coast tonight, and is expected to cross between Rockhampton and Mackay.

There is an associated trough stretching south and this is expected to cause all the problems for south east Queensland and north east New South Wales.

The rain will start to increase across these regions from tonight and the next two days will see heavy down pours increase to the point where flooding is likely.

Winds are continuing to build and so the swell combining with the biggest tides of the year to date.

Coastal inundation and erosion is also expected.

Along that trough another low is expected to form in the Tasman which will generate increased swell over the weekend.