Rapidly intensifying Tropical Cyclone Nora is expected to become a category four system in Queensland's Gulf of Carpentaria later today, the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) has warned.

Forecaster Michael Knepp said the system would slow down by Sunday morning and cross the Queensland coast "sometime early next week, say Monday, Tuesday".

He said there was still a lot of uncertainty about where the cyclone would cross.

"Anywhere from just south of Kowanyama all the way to around Burketown, even just a little bit west of there," he said.

The BOM has issued a warning for residents from Karumba to Mapoon, including Weipa and Mornington Island, with the areas expected to be impacted this afternoon.

At 8:30am on Saturday, the eye of the system was 250 kilometres west of Weipa, moving south east at 18 kilometres per hour.

The warning states that "very destructive" winds with gusts to 270kph could develop between Weipa and Kowanyama this afternoon or overnight if the core of the cyclone nears the coast.

A watch zone is in place from the NT and Queensland border to Karumba.

"There's also the possibility as we go later into tomorrow that it will start to weaken so there is a warning at the moment between Mapoon and Kurumba — so there's a possibility of development of gales in the next 24 hours," Mr Knepp said.

On Saturday afternoon, Tropical Cyclone Nora was moving south east at 20kph. ( Supplied: BOM )

"Because this system is going to slow down as it approaches the coast, we could expect to see extended periods of fairly strong winds — hurricane-force winds — also there's the potential of some very heavy rainfall and prolonged rainfall too.

"There is definitely potential of falls of up to half-a-metre because it's moving so slowly with the heaviest falls on late Sunday, Monday and Tuesday, especially in the Kurumba, Normanton even Burketown area, and Mornington Island is also at risk there too.

"We are still going to see some good shower activity between Townsville and Cooktown — so we have a flood watch in that area."

Final preparations underway

In the remote Cape York community of Kowanyama, final preparations for the storm are underway.

Kowanyama Aboriginal Shire Council CEO Fabian Williams said a community meeting was held last night.

"There is obviously people that are a little concerned for relatives and so on, but all we've asked them is to make contact with relatives and family and move into some of the stronger buildings within Kowanyama," he said.

A satellite view of Tropical Cyclone Nora over the Gulf of Carpentaria at 8:20am on Saturday. ( Supplied: BOM )

"Over the last few days we've obviously had time to prepare for the current situation.

"Today is about making final arrangements with removing loose objects around community, people tidying up their yards, that's well underway.

"We're probably at that point now where [evacuation] options are quite limited, it's more about preparing for what we've got now."

Queensland disaster coordinator Bob Gee said he believed the region was ready.

"We've resupplied, health have had an assessment with us locally on the ground, we've looked at everyone that are vulnerable in those communities and provided assistance or got them out as best we can so far. We're very confident that all the planning has allowed people there to be in their best position," he said.

Residents in affected areas should have prepared their homes, yards and emergency kits, and be ready to take shelter.

Those in the watch zone should check their homes for loose material and tie down or fill with water all large, relatively light items such as boats and rubbish bins.

They should also fill vehicle tanks and jerry cans with fuel, prepare emergency kits and ensure they have at least 3 litres of drinking water per person stored.

Further warnings will be issued during the day.

The cyclone passed by the north-east Arnhem Land town of Nhulunbuy about 4:00pm on Friday, but the region escaped relatively unscathed by the second cyclone to impact the Northern Territory in a week.