Cyclone Iris still has plenty of puff but Queenslanders escape the worst
Residents in Queensland's Whitsunday region have been spared the worst of Tropical Cyclone Iris after it failed to strengthen overnight.
Forecasters had predicted it would intensify into a category three system in the early hours of Wednesday.
Instead, it weakened.
Bureau of Meteorology forecaster Dean Narramore said conditions weren't conducive to maintaining a cyclone, and Iris remained a category two.
Mr Narramore said it should weaken into a category one later on Wednesday and turn into a tropical low by nightfall.
Tropical Cyclone Iris was located about 295km northeast of Mackay, and was moving south-east along the Queensland coast at about 9km/h.
A cyclone warning remained in place from Bowen to Yeppoon, including Mackay and the Whitsunday Islands, but a watch zone for further south had been cancelled.
Residents in affected areas were being urged to stay inside because of gale-force winds and heavy rain.
Gusts of more than 100km/h had been recorded at Hamilton Island on Wednesday morning.
But it appeared the region may have dodged the worst of the heavy rain.
The area between Bowen and the Whitsunday region received up to 100mm of rain in the previous 24 hours, far below what was originally expected.
AAP