Tropical cyclone expected to lash Australia's Queensland from Thursday

SYDNEY (Reuters) - Some tourist towns along Australia's Great Barrier Reef and other places in northeastern Queensland state are bracing for a potential tropical cyclone which is expected to make landfall on Thursday, the day before the Australia Day long weekend.

Authorities advised residents to stock enough emergency supplies to last for at least three days and avoid unnecessary travel as a tropical low in the Coral Sea, about 700 km (435 miles) off the Queensland coast, is expected to develop into a cyclone on Wednesday night, the weather bureau said.