A tropical cyclone over the Coral Sea is expected to track towards Norfolk Island, with strong winds likely to batter the region.

Alex Majchrowski of the Bureau of Meteorology says the tropical low-pressure system is expected to develop into a category one cyclone overnight on Saturday as it continues to track towards the southeast.

Tropical cyclone expected to develop tonight and move further away from Queensland. The system is likely to impact Norfolk Island on Monday. https://t.co/rVLE6i5J4y pic.twitter.com/Owj6geswM4 — Bureau of Meteorology, Queensland (@BOM_Qld) March 14, 2020

The weather system is forecast to develop into a category two cyclone on Sunday before it approaches Norfolk Island on Monday.

As it passes through the island, it's expected to turn into a tropical low, Mr Majchrowski says.

"It's important to note that the wind speeds will still be equivalent of that of a category two tropical cyclone," he said on Saturday.

Severe Weather Update: tropical low heading towards Norfolk Island



Video current at 12:00 pm AEST Friday 13 March 2020



Know your weather. Know your risk.

For the latest weather forecasts and warnings visit https://t.co/HcFFoWwk1o and follow advice from emergency services. pic.twitter.com/n5EpA770A7 — Bureau of Meteorology, Australia (@BOM_au) March 13, 2020

Damaging winds with gusts of more than 90 kilometres per hour are likely to hit Norfolk Island in the early hours of Monday morning, with destructive gusts above 125km/h possible during the day.

READ MORE Everything you need to know about cyclones

The bureau has also warned of damaging surf conditions with waves exceeding five metres.

The weather system is not expected to affect mainland Queensland but strong wind warnings were in place on Saturday from Townsville to the Sunshine Coast with gale warnings in place for the Great Barrier Reef.

Strong winds are forecast to hit the coastal waters south of Mackay on Sunday, with gale warnings in place for the Fraser Island coast, Gold Coast and the Sunshine Coast, Mr Majchrowski said.

"We are not expecting much weather-wise for Queensland, it's really just those strong winds and gale warnings," he said.