
Tourists on Hamilton and Hayman Islands are weathering the worst of Cyclone Debbie as the Category 4 storm passes over the normally idyllic tropical paradises.

The eye of the storm hit the Whitsundays on Tuesday morning, tearing roofs off buildings, branches off palm trees and cutting power to Airlie Beach.

'I have never heard gusts of wind howl this loud and this intense before,' tourist Helena Mo said from Hamilton Island. 'You can't help but worry about what's going to happen next.'

The monster storm was tracking across the Whitsundays with 190 km/h winds before it hit the mainland at Bowen after midday.

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Tourists on Hamilton Island (pictured) and Airlie Beach are weathering the worst of Cyclone Debbie as the Category 4 storm passes over the normally idyllic tropical paradises

The eye of the storm has hit the Whitsundays with reports of roofs off buildings in some parts and power has been cut to tourist hub Airlie Beach (pictured)

'I have to admit it's been difficult to get some sleep, even with the knowledge that we are staying in a very secure hotel,' Ms Mo told AAP.

She said she and her boyfriend moved a mattress into the bathroom around midnight, but so far they had been able to stay in the main part of their room at the Reef View Hotel.

'The doors and windows in this hotel have been pretty sturdy and cyclone proof,' she said.

Shocking photos show the damage done to exclusive resort Hamilton Island with branches smashing into golf carts and yachts breaking free of moorings in the marina.

Residents in Hayman Island reported feeling wind gusts of up to 232 km/h.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has warned the vast size of the cyclone - the worst to hit Queensland since Yasi six years ago - means the devastating core could take three hours to pass, and people should expect to be holed up for the entire day.

'It is incredible. Honestly, it is huge,' she told the Nine network on Tuesday.

As the wind tore through Hamilton Island on Tuesday (pictured), trees were stripped of branches and smashed into golf carts

A yacht broke free of its moorings on Tuesday and was seen floating out to sea at Airlie Beach (pictured)

Hamilton Island (pictured) was thrashed on Tuesday, with the tidal surge flooding the beach

Tourists on Hamilton Island, Airlie Beach and Hayman Island (pictured) are weathering the worst of Cyclone Debbie as the Category 4 storm passes over the normally idyllic tropical paradises

On Tuesday morning, the monster storm was tracking across the Whitsundays with 190 km/h winds and is forecast to hit the mainland at Ayr by 2pm with 275km/h winds

As the monster storm ripped through Airlie Beach, a car was seen powering through the winds near the beach

Hamilton Island (pictured) is usually a tourist hub, but was empty on Tuesday, with the ocean surges flooding the beach

Footage captured the moment the Category 4 storm tore through tourist hub Hamilton Island

'The broad stretch of the Queensland coast that it is going to impact - it is going to be felt in a lot of communities from Townsville all the way down south to Mackay. And of course there will be the flooding events that happen afterwards.'

The premier said serious concerns were held for Bowen, which is expected to take an almost direct hit, Airlie Beach and the islands being battered so savagely as Debbie heads slowly towards the coastline.

Whitsunday Councillor Jan Clifford is sheltering at her Airlie Beach home, and offered some choice words to describe Debbie, calling the cyclone 'one mean, big b****'.

'You've got to keep your sense of humour about it, because if you don't laugh you will cry,' she told AAP as she described watching trees topple in her yard under the force of 180km/h wind gusts.

But she says she feels safe.

One man uploaded pictures to social media of tourist hub Hamilton Island before the monster storm hit (bottom) and after (top)

On Tuesday morning, the monster storm was tracking across the Whitsundays with 190 km/h winds and is forecast to hit the mainland at Ayr by 2pm. Hamilton Island is pictured

Hayman Island, in the Whitsundays, was also thrashed by Cyclone Debbie on Tuesday, with palm trees buckling in the 230km/h wind

Ominous storm clouds were seen rolling in over the Airlie Beach marina on Tuesday

Whitsunday Councillor Jan Clifford is sheltering at her Airlie Beach home, and offered some choice words to describe Debbie, calling the cyclone 'one mean, big b****'. Hamilton Island is pictured

Hotels on the beachfront at Hayman Island (pictured) were inundated with water on Tuesday morning as Debbie rolled in

In Proserpine, west of Hamilton Island, one woman captured the moment a roof went flying down the street as the winds pummeled the town on Tuesday

Police Commissioner Ian Stewart said Debbie's slow pace is having 'a battering ram effect'

At the Whitsundays, trees collapsed onto the road, blocking drivers from escaping the usually picturesque island

'The houses are built for this up here.'

The storm surge - which could inundate low-lying homes - is still expected to be significant. At Laguna Keys, south of Airlie Beach, a storm surge of 1.5 metres has already been recorded, as the tide builds toward its peak.

'This will not pass during the day. For the next 12 hours, I need families to remain safe, and remain where they are,' Ms Palaszczuk told ABC.

Power has been cut to some communities as Debbie encroaches, trees are down across the region, and some structural damage is starting to become apparent.

Police Commissioner Ian Stewart said Debbie's slow pace is having 'a battering ram effect'.

'These winds are going to keep pounding, pounding, pounding,' he said.

'I suspect before the day is out, we will see a lot of structural damage in the cyclone's path.'

The destructive core of the storm cell is battering the Whitsunday Islands, while residents in Airlie Beach (pictured) are already bearing the brunt of the cyclone with fallen trees and flying debris