UPDATE 2:30PM: THERE is a high chance a tropical low near Papua New Guinea will turn into a cyclone on Sunday as it heads towards the Queensland coast.

The weather system which is currently a tropical low, is forecast to drift southward for the next 24 to 36 hours.

According to the Bureau of Meteorology conditions are favourable for he system to develop into a cyclone on the weekend.

It’s forecast to make landfall on the north tropical Queensland coast early next week.

EARLIER: THE Bureau of Meteorology is forecasting a moderate to high chance of a tropical low in the Coral Sea developing into a cyclone.

BOM meteorologist James Thompson said the tropical low was roughly 1000km off the coast of Papua New Guinea and was expected to track towards the Queensland coast.

“There is a moderate to high chance it will develop into a cyclone on the weekend,” he said.

“At the moment we’re talking about it going towards the Cooktown to Mackay area which is quote a large area of coastline.”

Mr Thompson said it was too early to narrow down the area where the cyclone could cross but it was “unlikely” that it would change direction and move away from Queensland.

Townsville received some heavy falls overnight with Bushland Beach receiving the most at 91mm up to 9am this morning.

Kirwan received 46mm, 31mm fell over the dam and 35mm was recorded at the airport.

YESTERDAY: THE chances of a cyclone crossing the North Queensland coast have increased to “moderate” with the Bureau of Meteorology predicting it could make landfall on Monday.

There is now between a 20 and 50 per cent prospect of a cyclone developing in the Coral Sea.

media_camera Caleb Souter stocks shelves at the Cornetts IGA Garbutt as local business's prepare for the possibility of a cyclone.

Meteorologist Andrew Cearn said the outlook was expected to remain moderate into Sunday and Monday.

“A couple of weather computer models are coming on board now,” he said.

“But there’s no firm agreement between them all.”

Mr Cearn said the chances would increase towards the weekend.

“You can’t tell where it’s going to cross, but it’s going to move west and will cross Monday or Tuesday,” he said.

“Much like we’ve seen in the last few days, there will be some afternoon showers throughout the rest of the week, but they will be patchy and widespread.

“Our best chance is if it (cyclone) comes into the coast, we may see some good rain early next week.”

Disaster management support officer Acting Senior Sergeant Brenton Webb said police closely tracked the development of any lows.

“If it’s a Category 5 we’re looking at some fairly serious actions in terms of making arrangements ... in terms of where it’s going to form and what environmental impacts it’s going to have,” he said.

Sen-Sgt Webb said residents should start preparing for the possibility of a cyclone.

“It would be a very prudent time for people to start because we haven’t had a significant weather event for some time,” he said. “Residents should clean their yards of debris, prepare their homes and check their cyclone kits.

“If they are a care organisation, a care giver or a care provider, then they should be making sure that there are significant weather event arrangements in place.”

Sen-Sgt Webb said as the North had not experienced a significant rain event in some time it was crucial to remember that flooding may take place.

“While it’s an exciting prospect that we may get rain, we need to remember — if it’s flooded forget it,” he said.

Garbutt IGA has already started preparing for the event, stocking its shelves with extra tinned food, batteries and water bottles.

“There’s no panic just yet, but we are getting prepared for it,” a female employee said. “We’re getting lots of water, tinned food, long life milk, batteries. People should get prepared.”