Queensland's second cyclone of the season could be a category four storm by Monday, forecasters say.
Cyclone Sandra, which is about 1300km east of Queensland's coast, turned into a category two storm at 4am (AEST) on Saturday.
Bureau of Meteorology forecaster Pradeep Singh says Sandra will turn into a category three storm by Sunday and possibly a category four by Monday.
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It's currently moving in a southeast direction, towards New Caledonia, but forecasters still aren't sure which direction the cyclone will take.
"One of our favourite models takes it further southeast into the Tasman Sea, never to be seen again," he told AAP.
"But while it's there to east of us, there's always potential it can come back. If it does come back it could also weaken.
"We'll have a clearer picture on Monday."
Housing and Public Works Minister Tim Mander said on Saturday that 10 new category-five cyclone shelters are ready for use if the storm does comes east.
The shelters, each of which can provide secure accommodation for up to 800 people, are in Townsville, Ingham, Proserpine and Bowen Mackay, Cairns, Innisfail, Cooktown, Port Douglas, Tully, Weipa and Yeppoon.
"We've already had more than enough wild weather this year, but if Sandra does cross the coast we will be ready for it," Mr Mander said in a statement.
Sandra is the seventh cyclone to form in the Australian region during the 2012-13 season, which runs from November to the end of April.
