The Bureau of Meteorology has issued a cyclone watch for communities in far north Queensland between Thursday Island and Cooktown.

The bureau has been monitoring a deepening tropical low in the northern Coral Sea.

Forecaster Andrew Mostyn says the system is likely to bring gale-force winds to the Cape York coast.

"With an expected crossing of the coast most probably near Lockhart River and that will probably be on Wednesday morning or around lunch time on Wednesday as it makes its way towards there as a category one or maybe a very low-grade category two cyclone," he said.