Emergency services are keeping a close eye on three cyclones approaching the coasts of North Queensland and Western Australia's south-west respectively.

Tropical Cyclone Anthony has reformed into a category one system off North Queensland and has turned back towards land.

The weather bureau says the cyclone reformed yesterday morning and is about 950 kilometres north-north-east of Townsville.

Forecaster Greg Connor says it is likely to cross the coast between Cooktown and Mackay sometime early Monday morning.

"We do expect it to intensify. It's probable that it will get to category one or two, but there is the possibility it will get to category three before it gets to the coast," he said.

"The big danger with Anthony is that it's starting to move now towards the coast and we're likely to be putting out a cyclone watch for the coastal listening area for this evening from 5.00pm onwards."

Another system is off Fiji and could hit Queensland as a category four or five cyclone as early as next Thursday.

This system potentially poses the bigger threat to Queensland.

Premier Anna Bligh says she has reactivated the state's disaster management group to deal with the threat.

Ms Bligh also says the associated rain could bring more flooding.

And authorities along the south-west coast of Western Australia are preparing for possible damage from Cyclone Bianca.

The bureau says there is a significant risk that Bianca, a category three system, could maintain tropical cyclone intensity as it approaches the coast early on Sunday.

Forecasters have issued a cyclone watch for areas including Perth, Bunbury and Busselton. The cyclone passed Exmouth overnight, bringing strong winds but no reports of damage.

Wild weather

Bureau regional director Mike Bergin says although Bianca was expected to weaken to a category one system overnight on Friday, there will likely be very wild weather on Sunday.

"[There will be] damaging wind gusts to 120 kilometres-per-hour, so that will see severe to extreme fire danger with the northerly winds," he said.

"We'll be seeing very rough seas, increasing swells, significant wave heights probably up towards four metres. We'll probably see beach erosion as well."

The United States navy website suggests the cyclone will cross the coast very close to Perth.

Fire and Emergency Services spokesman Allen Gale says the cyclonic activity will bring a mixture of problems.

"One of the big effects is the fire danger weather on Sunday - that will be a very significant, possibly up to a catastrophic [level warning]," he said.

Mr Bergin describes the cyclone as an "evolving story" and says people in the area should keep informed.

"Bianca still has a considerable distance to travel, better than 1,500 kilometres across the Indian Ocean," he said.

"So the uncertainties in the time of arrival are significant but the risk is very high."

The bureau has also warned low-lying coastal areas may be flooded.

But it says Bianca is not expected to be as bad as Cyclone Alby which hit Perth in 1978.

Alby claimed five lives and caused widespread damage in the Perth metropolitan area.

Earlier on Friday a red alert was lifted for Exmouth and Coral Bay as the cyclone headed away from the coast.

Queensland Deputy Police Commissioner Ian Stewart said residents in the danger zone need to be prepared.

"I'd be asking people to think about stocking up on essential items, but there is no need for panic buying," he said.

"Make sure they have fuel in their vehicles, items in their yards and around their houses that could become missiles are put away or tied down."