A category five Tropical Cyclone Nathan "cannot be ruled out" the Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) says, as favourable conditions could lead to more periods of rapid intensification prior to landfall.

Currently a category three cyclone, Nathan is returning to far north Queensland, having moved away from the region after forming in the Coral Sea nine days ago.

In the BoM's latest forecast, Nathan was less than 205 kilometres east northeast of Cooktown and moving west at 13 kilometres per hour.

The core of Nathan, described as "very destructive", could reach maximum wind gusts of 260 kilometres per hour.

Heavy rainfall, which may lead to flash flooding, is expected to develop about the coast between Coen and Cape Tribulation tonight, extending west through inland parts with the passage of Nathan on Friday.

The cyclone could also cause water levels on the high tide to exceed the highest tide of the year between Port Douglas and Innisfail.

Nathan is expected to make landfall somewhere between Cape Melville and Cooktown as a category four system early Friday morning.

However, the BoM's latest technical report said despite Nathan's intensity stalling somewhat overnight, the environment remained "very favourable" for further intensification.

"Taking into account the small size of the system and the very favourable environment, periods of more rapid intensification are possible," the report said.

"The recent slowing of intensification makes category five before landfall less likely, but it still cannot be ruled out."

The report also said the longer term outlook showed Nathan emerging into the Gulf of Carpentaria on Saturday morning and moving rapidly west-north-west towards the Top End as a category three cyclone.

"Numerical guidance generally intensifies the system to a tropical cyclone again quite rapidly, with some guidance reaching at least a category three system again in the Gulf.

"Although this is consistent with the current environment of very low shear across the Gulf, the intensity forecast is tempered by the possibility of an upper trough introducing some deep layer westerly shear to the system during this period."

BoM forecaster Jess Carey said Nathan was a very large and very condensed system.

"I suppose you could draw a parallel with Tropical Cyclone Marcia," Mr Carey said.

Cyclone tips from QFES Make sure emergency kits are well stocked with food, water, clothes, medication, first aid supplies, important documents and sleeping gear

Make sure emergency kits are well stocked with food, water, clothes, medication, first aid supplies, important documents and sleeping gear Secure outdoor items and bring any loose items inside

Secure outdoor items and bring any loose items inside Close all shutters or tape windows to minimise shattering glass

Close all shutters or tape windows to minimise shattering glass Secure boats and vehicles under cover

Secure boats and vehicles under cover Make sure you have cash on hand to cover essential items in case ATM access is unavailable

Make sure you have cash on hand to cover essential items in case ATM access is unavailable Fill baths with water and ensure you have water purification tablets in case access to water becomes restricted



"Obviously Tropical Cyclone Marcia was a category five at landfall but the make-up of the cyclone is very similar.

"It's quite a small condensed system. We're not looking at a situation like Vanuatu saw with Pam which is a very large system."

The current warning area exists from Coen to Cairns, extending inland to areas including Laura and Palmerville.

Queensland Fire and Emergency Services (QFES) has deployed 51 Urban Search and Rescue technicians from across the state to far north Queensland ahead of the cyclone making landfall.

"These technicians specialise in swift-water rescue and rapid damage assessment and will be placed where they are most needed over the coming days," a QFES statement said.

The State Emergency Service has sent 41 volunteers from central and northern Queensland to Cooktown to bolster local volunteer numbers in preparation for the cyclone.

Crews will be assisting residents with preparations and responding to calls for assistance following the cyclone.

The Queensland Police Service have deployed 72 police to Cairns and some remote communities.

Nathan is the second cyclone to hit Queensland this year, after Tropical Cyclone Marcia hit the state's central region in February, damaging hundreds of homes in Yeppoon, Rockhampton and surrounding areas.

System is small but will pack a punch

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said state government agencies were fully prepared for Nathan.

"The Bureau of Meteorology will be providing regular updates, hourly updates and we will be having further briefings this afternoon as we pin-point further where the cyclone will cross," Ms Palaszczuk said at a press conference from the Queensland's State Disaster Management centre in Brisbane this morning.

"The good news is Ergon are well prepared. They have over 400 Ergon workers already up there in the region ready to go."

Ms Palaszczuk said Lizard Island had been fully evacuated and believed a cruise liner due to come down to Port Douglas this weekend would be cancelled.

"It is just not safe for that to happen at this stage," she said.

More than seven schools have also been closed.

BoM Queensland regional director Rob Webb said the cyclone was a small system but would "pack a punch".

"It's important that residents anywhere between about Cooktown and Cape Melville prepare for a category four system," Mr Webb said.

"Not all residents in that area will get a category four system, but wherever the course goes that's where the worst damage will be."

Concern for remote Hope Vale community

Cook Shire Mayor Peter Scott said he feared Nathan's impact could be worse than Cyclone Ita's last year.

Tropical cyclone category system Category five Extremely dangerous with widespread destruction

Extremely dangerous with widespread destruction Very destructive winds - typical gusts over flat land of more than 280kph Category four Significant building damage likely, many caravans will be blown away or destroyed

Significant building damage likely, many caravans will be blown away or destroyed Dangerous airborne debris and widespread power failures

Dangerous airborne debris and widespread power failures Very destructive winds - typical gusts over flat land of 225-279kph Category three Some damage to roofs and buildings, some caravans will be destroyed

Some damage to roofs and buildings, some caravans will be destroyed Power failures likely

Power failures likely Very destructive winds - typical gusts over flat land of 165-224kph Category two Minor house damage, significant damage to signs, trees and caravans

Minor house damage, significant damage to signs, trees and caravans Heavy damage to some crops, risk of power failure, small craft may break moorings

Heavy damage to some crops, risk of power failure, small craft may break moorings Destructive winds - typical gusts over flat land of 125-164kph Category one Damage to some crops, trees and caravans; crafts may drag moorings

Damage to some crops, trees and caravans; crafts may drag moorings Gales - typical gusts over flat land of 90-125kph Source: Bureau of Meteorology

"My real concern is that the current track map shows it coming in between here and Cape Flattery and that really opens up exposure to Hope Vale," he said.

"They're in a lot more of an exposed position if it comes in from that direction than even we are here.

"But I know Hope Vale will be as prepared as they can be, and there's plenty of support coming in from outside as well."

Councillor Scott said about a dozen properties in the area could be inundated if higher-than-average tides coincided with Cyclone Nathan's crossing on Friday.

"We're lucky because we haven't had rain for a good four five days now and we don't expect to get a lot of rain in the lead-up either," he said.

"But all those people we've identified - and this is not just the people in Cooktown - this is the people down at Ayton and Bloomfield, they've been contacted.

"They've made arrangements to either stay put or shelter with friends or in need they can come into our place of refuge here."

He said the region had learned a lot since Ita.

"It was a great learning exercise. Council and the State agencies that came to help did a fantastic job of cleaning up post Ita.

The Mayor Hope Vale Aboriginal Shire, north of Cooktown, Greg McLean, said a cyclone shelter will open in the community tonight.

"Everybody's been told you can stay at home, go to your neighbour's if you feel your house is unsafe, the multi-purpose centre will be open - we got people in to check it out and nothing's wrong with our shelter," he said.

Cook shire mayor Peter Scott boards up window at his home in Cooktown ahead of Tropical Cyclone Nathan. ( ABC News: Sharnie Kim )

Councillor McLean said the Hope Vale banana farm was devastated during Cyclone Ita last year.

Douglas Shire Mayor Julia Leu said they have activated their local disaster co-ordination centre with gale force winds expected to cause damage to communities north of the Daintree River.

"We have additional resources that we have stationed north of the river," she said.

"Just south of the Bloomfield river we have got a backhoe and driver and we will be ready to clear the roads as soon as we're able to.

"We also have, as far as the local disaster management group, we have additional police that will be at Cow Bay Hotel where many people will shelter for the evening."