Tropical cyclone upgraded to 'severe' as it approaches Australian coast

SYDNEY (Reuters) - A tropical cyclone off the coast of northern Australia was upgraded to the "severe" category three on Thursday, hours before it was set to make landfall along the coastline bordering the Great Barrier Reef, the second such cyclone in the area since December.

The Bureau of Meteorology said tropical cyclone Kirrily will cross the coast near the tourist town of Townsville on Thursday night, bringing with it wind gusts of up to 165 km (103 miles) per hour.