Two strong storm systems hit Australia's north and north-eastern coast Friday. According to dpa, the more powerful storm, tropical cyclone Marcia, made landfall near the city of Rockhampton on the north-east coast of Queensland state, media reports said, with gusts of up to 295 kilometres per hour. Marcia was downgraded from a category 5 to a category 4 storm as it moved south along the coast, the Bureau of Meteorology said, warning local residents of "abnormally high tides." Across Queensland, 134 schools and 43 childcare centres closed, according to national broadcaster ABC. Weaker tropical cyclone Lam earlier made landfall in the Northern Territory, with sustained winds of 110 kilometres per hour, and gusts of maximum 155 kilometres per hour.
