Cyclone likely to form off Queensland coast, BOM says

The Bureau of Meteorology is closely watching a weak tropical low in the northern Coral Sea that could develop into a tropical cyclone late on Sunday.

Senior forecaster Felim Hanniffy said the low – known as 22U – would drift eastward over the next few days and away from the Queensland coast.

"It has a moderate chance of developing into a tropical cyclone from Saturday — that's above a 20 per cent chance," he said.

"But [there is] large uncertainty on its movement, particularly in relation to the Queensland coast."

Mr Hanniffy said the system had the potential to cause rough seas and windy conditions along much of the east coast.

On Friday a south-easterly is set to bring showers to the east and parts of the north-east tropical coasts.

"We could see some localised moderate falls up along the north tropical coast, " Mr Hanniffy said.

Isolated thunderstorms are forecast for the Cape York Peninsula, Gulf Country and the northern and central interior.

Maximum temperatures will be above average in Queensland's western interior and western peninsula.