Tropical cyclone could reach within 100km of north Queensland coast

A tropical cyclone could reach within 100 kilometres of the north Queensland coast, with the system forecast to reach a category 2 by Tuesday.

The Bureau of Meteorology said a tropical low was located 135 kilometres east of Innisfail, and 175 kilometres east of Cairns about midday Monday, moving slowly west-south-west.

However, it is highly unlikely to make a direct coastal crossing.

Residents between Cape Flattery and Lucinda have been urged to take precautions with warnings of gales of up to 100km/h, heavy rainfall and abnormally high tides likely in the warning area.

The system is currently moving at 8km/h and is expected to remain slow moving while continuing to develop today.