UPDATE 11:00AM AEST | TROPICAL Cyclone Debbie has, in the last hour, officially formed in the Coral Sea.

At 11am, Debbie, now a Category 1 storm, was estimated to be around 580 kilometres east-northeast of Townsville.

The system is currently moving southwest at around 9km/h and is expected to intensify into a Category 4 storm before crossing the coast near Townsville on Tuesday morning.

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The Bureau of Meteorology says it can not rule out the possibility of the system reaching Category 5 strength if it lingers over the ocean for longer than expected.

A Cyclone Watch extends from Cape Tribulation to St Lawrence, including Cairns, Townsbille and Mackay.

The weather bureau warns gale force winds will begin to develop about the coast and islands between Cape Tribulation and St Lawrence, including the Whitsunday Islands, during Sunday.

Based on the current forecast track, abnormally high tides are expected to occur between at least Lucinda and Mackay as the cyclone approaches the coast. Large waves may also develop along the beachfront.

Areas of heavy rain are expected to develop about parts of the northern and central Queensland coast and adjacent inland areas into Sunday.

As a result, a Flood Watch is current for coastal catchments between Cooktown and Mackay, extending inland to the eastern Gulf River catchments.

MORE TO COME.

EARLIER: RESIDENTS in North Queensland are bracing for impact with a tropical cyclone forming in the Coral Sea now tipped to make landfall as a destructive Category 4 storm with winds nearing 280km/h.

The Bureau of Meteorology warns a low-pressure system sitting roughly 600 kilometres east-northeast of Townsville will spin up into Tropical Cyclone Debbie today.

Once formed, Debbie is tipped to undergo rapid intensification as she heads west towards North Queensland, reaching severe Category 4 strength before crossing the coast early next week.

Current forecasts have Debbie making landfall somewhere between Cairns and Townsville on Monday night or early Tuesday morning.

The bureau had previously warned the system would cross the coast as a Category 3 storm but late last night revised their predictions to a much stronger Category 4.

The destructive storm is tipped to impact a 300km long stretch of coastline with winds near its centre capable of tearing apart homes, cutting power and telecommunications and whipping up a tsunami-like storm surge.

It will be the first tropical cyclone to impact Queensland in two years.

The last cyclone to make landfall in the sunshine state was Tropical Cyclone Nathan which crossed near Cape Flattery as a Category 4 system on 20 March, 2015.

A Cyclone Watch currently extends from Cape Tribulation to St Lawrence, including Cairns, Townsville, Mackay, and the Whitsunday Islands, as does a Flood Watch, with up to 500mm of rain forecast to fall in some parts.

The weather bureau warns the deluge is likely to cause widespread flooding, with major river flooding possible.

Residents in the area are being urged to review their emergency kits and prepare now.

CYCLONE STRENGTHS: The severity of a tropical cyclone is described in terms of categories ranging from 1 to 5 related to the zone of maximum winds.

CATEGORY 1:

Gale force winds less than 125km/h

Minimal house damage

Damage to some crops, trees and caravans

Boats may drag moorings

CATEGORY 2:

Destructive winds between 125-164km/h

Minor house damage

Significant damage to signs, trees and caravans

Heavy damage to some crops

Risk of power failer

Small boats may break moorings

CATEGORY 3:

Very destructive winds between 165-224km/h

Some roof and structural damage

Some caravans destroyed

Power failure likely

CATEGORY 4:

Very destructive winds between 225-279km/h

Significant roof and structural damage

Many caravans destroyed and blown away

Dangerous airborne debris

Widespread power failures

CATEGORY 5:

Extremely destructive winds more than 280km/h

Extremely dangerous with widespread destruction

Remember: If it’s flooded, forget it.

For flood emergency assistance contact the SES on 132 500

For life threatening emergencies, call Triple Zero (000) immediately

Current emergency information is available at www.qld.gov.au/alerts

For the latest weather forecasts see: www.bom.gov.au/qld/forecasts

Rainfall and river information are available at www.bom.gov.au/qld/flood

The latest warnings and cyclone track maps can be found here: www.bom.gov.au/qld/warnings/

IMPORTANT: Please note forecasts are subject to change. The information, advice, warnings, and forecast track map featured this article were current at the time of writing (2:00 AM Saturday AEST).