A cyclone that's formed off the Northern Territory coast could cross the Queensland coast as a severe category three storm, forecasters say.
Queensland's Disaster Management Committee will meet in Brisbane on Friday, with Cyclone Nora expected to quickly gather strength as it tracks towards the coast in the Gulf of Carpentaria.
Nora is currently a category one storm but is expected to intensify to a two by Friday afternoon, and a severe category three by Saturday afternoon.
Current models have it heading towards Mornington Island, near the Queensland- Northern Territory border.
A coastal crossing anywhere along the western Cape York Peninsula south of Weipa on Saturday or Sunday is possible.
Emergency Services Minister Craig Crawford said residents on the Gulf Coast from Thursday Island to the NT border should prepare for strong winds and heavy rainfall.
"Until this afternoon we won't be able to really ... say where we think this is going," he told ABC radio.
"But we're prepared for an impact, or certainly a cyclone, in the area of a significant part of our coastline in the Gulf. It's very much a wait and see at the moment."
Queensland's emergency services commissioner Katarina Carroll said rapid response teams were being assembled in preparation, including swift-water rescue specialists.
"These crews will have the ability to fly into any area requiring assistance within four hours of being notified and will be self-sustaining for 48 hours," she said.
Mornington Shire Council chief executive Frank Mills says there are no cyclone shelters on Mornington Island, but authorities can make arrangements for people who don't have a safe place to shelter.
On Friday morning, Nora was about 255 kilometres north of Nhulunbuy, on the Gove Peninsula in the Northern Territory, and 640 kilometres west northwest of Weipa.
The storm has winds of 65km/h, with gusts to 95km/h. There is a lot of rain associated with the system, which could further affect roads cut and damaged by floodwaters earlier this month.
Gales with gusts to 110km/h could develop in coastal areas between Elcho Island and Cape Shield, including Nhulunbuy, on Friday.
Gales could also develop in coastal areas between Thursday Island and Cape Keerweer, including Weipa, from Friday night, and may extend south between Cape Keerweer and the NT/Qld Border, including Mornington Island, on Saturday.
