Two powerful cyclones are expected to smash into northern Australia, bringing heavy rain and gusts of up to 160mph.

The twin storms are both expected to hit remote areas when they make landfall early Friday, about 1,500 miles apart.

Cyclone Lam is on track to cross over a sparsely-populated stretch of the Northern Territory, while the more powerful Cyclone Marcia is expected to hit the eastern coast of Queensland state a few hours later.

The Australian bureau of meteorology warned that Marcia has a very destructive core, had intensified rapidly and could grow stronger before it strikes. It is likely to bring storm surges that could cause flooding in low-lying areas.