A tropical cyclone is bearing down on Australia.

Tropical Cyclone Ita is expected to make landfall in northeast Australia.  The storm is the equivalent of a strong Category 4 hurricane according to the Joint Typhoon Warning Center.

However, forecasters say the storm will strengthen before landfall and be a Category 5 severe tropical cyclone.

The storm is expected to have such intense winds and rain by the time it makes landfall that forecasters are warning of strong storm surges that could cause serious damage to coastal areas.

The Australia Bureau of Meteorology believes that Cooktown will bear the brunt of the storm’s landfall and then the storm will turn south.