A LOW in the Coral Sea has quickly intensified to form into the second cyclone of the season set to impact the Queensland coast.
Cyclone Kimi was named as a category one storm this morning and is expected to cross the coast between Cooktown and Cairns late on Monday morning.
Bureau of Meteorology meteorologist Kimba Wong said the bureau had been keeping an eye on the low, but yesterday modelling indicated there was only a 5-20 per cent chance of it forming into a cyclone.
"Conditions weren't ideal for it developing being so close to land, but it's decided to do its own thing and formed now, which is a timely reminder we can get cyclone any time during cyclone season," Ms Wong said.
Kimi was located about 135km east of Cooktown at 2pm today, and was moving south at a rate of about 11km/h.
Ms Wong said the cyclone would track south-west over the next 12 hours or so, and it may intensify to a category two system before it makes landfall between Cape Flattery and Cairns late tomorrow morning.
Once it crosses it is expected to weaken quite rapidly, but would bring widespread rain to the north tropical coast.
Rainfall over 100mm in 24 hours was likely for areas between Cape Flattery and Ingham in coming days, with heavier totals of 200mm plus also possible in isolated areas.
Ms Wong said the highest totals were expected on the southern flank of the cyclone and would depend on where it crossed.
"Exactly where it goes will determine how much rainfall areas get, but the southern flank is more exposed to onshore winds and will get heavier rainfall.
"We might also see some higher totals in the northern interior, across the Atherton Tablelands, and as far west as Chillagoe and Palmerville, and more generally across the Cape York peninsula."
Ms Wong said flood watches were in place for catchments between Cape Flattery and Ingham, with the region already sodden in the wake of ex-tropical cyclone Imogen, which crossed the coast north of Karumba on January 3.
She said winds up to 120km/h could develop along the coast from Cape Melville and Cardwell, with a potential for destructive wind gusts up to 130km/h from tomorrow morning.
