Cyclone likely this week: forecasters

Forecasters say a low off Cairns in the Coral Sea should become a cyclone by Thursday, but where it might track isn't yet clear.

Another cyclone is expected to form off Queensland in coming days, promising more wild weather for the state three weeks on from Cyclone Marcia.

Forecasters say a low in the Coral Sea is currently 650km northeast of Cairns and should become a cyclone by Thursday, with gales and heavy rain expected in the far north from Wednesday.

"It's to sit off the coast from Thursday, Friday. There is a little bit of uncertainly beyond Thursday and Friday about exactly where the system's going to go," Bureau of Meteorology forecaster Sam Campbell told the ABC.

"We can't really speculate beyond that. But certainly it will be moving towards the east coast over coming days, and some gales developing along the coast is quite likely."

Some central Queensland communities are still recovering from severe tropical Cyclone Marcia last month, which destroyed some homes and severely damaged others.

Forecaster Jess Carey had said on Monday that the storm looked set to cross the coast, but this is now unlikely as it will be pulled east by the force of another cyclone near Fiji.

"But you are still going to get affects along the coast," he told AAP.

"You're still going to get gale-force winds and also heavy rainfall through the area but you won't get that storm surge."

Mr Carey said far north residents should still keep a close eye on forecasts this week as storms, especially cyclones, could change quickly.


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Source: AAP


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