Whitsunday Island residents are being urged to continue cyclone preparations as Cyclone Ului heads closer to the coast.

According to the Bureau of Meterology in Australia, the cyclone is expected to cross the coast between Ayr and Sarina early tomorrow morning, possibly re-intensifying to a category 3 system before landfall. The cyclone is then expected to weaken inland later tomorrow.

Severe wind gusts to 170 km/hr near the cyclone centre may affect coastal and island communities in the threatened area early Sunday.

Damaging winds are expected to develop between Townsville and Yeppoon later today, then extend to adjacent inland parts on Sunday.

Heavy rainfall and flooding are likely to develop about coastal and adjacent inland areas between Bowen and St Lawrence early tomorrow.