Cyclone Lam could intensify to category four by tomorrow

Nhulunbuy appears to have been spared a direct hit from tropical cyclone Lam, but another part of the top end is in the firing line.

Today the storm's violent inner core charged to the west, not directly over Nhulunbuy as originally feared.

Residents of Elcho Island have taken shelter already as the category three cyclone barrelling towards the coast intensifies.

The Bureau of Meteorology said they are expecting Lam to make a left-hand turn over the next 12 hours.

Lam is expected to become a severe category four system when it reaches landfall late tomorrow, the second-strongest classification there is.

No injuries have been reported, with a wharf near the Nhulunbuy refinery one of the early casualties.

Brisbane and the Gold Coast are also facing heavy rain after a category one tropical cyclone walking was issued for the Queensland coast as Cyclone Marcia nears.

The heaviest falls are expected tomorrow and Friday.