Cyclone Nathan is expected to head out to sea on Thursday night, but not before lashing Northern Queensland with heavy rain and winds.
But both pale in comparison to Cyclone Pam, a category four system lingering off the coast of Vanuatu.
Andrew Tupper from the Bureau of Meteorology said Cyclone Nathan was expected to intensify, but only after heading out to sea.
“At the moment it's a Category 2, it may move up to a Category 3,” he said.
“Because it's a very slow mover it may take a while for the conditions to abate.”
It's managed to create up to 400mm of rain in some areas, increasing the risk of flash flooding in places like Cooktown.
Destructive winds of more than 130kmph are also predicted further north between Cape Flattery and Cape Melville.
Across the country, Cyclone Olwyn is expected to become a category three system as it makes its way towards Western Australia.
Authorities said it will make landfall on Friday morning, west of Port Hedland, Australia's largest iron ore export terminal.
Two ports have been closed.
Mr Tupper said very heavy rainfall and property damage was expected.
“It's certainly unsafe to be outside and unprotected, so everyone should be enacting their cyclone plan and listening to emergency services,” he said.
Schools in affected areas will be closed on Friday, while emergency evacuation centres have been set up in Exmouth and Onslow.
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