Original story at ABC News
North Queensland residents are being urged to prepare for a possible cyclone that is expected to make landfall on Thursday.
The weather bureau has issued a cyclone watch for coastal areas from Port Douglas to Proserpine.
The system is about 760 kilometres east-north-east of Cairns and moving west-south-west at 9kph.
Duty forecaster Andrew Cearns says the low is likely to develop into a tropical cyclone tomorrow and cross the coast on Thursday.
"It certainly seems to be more on that in that area now between Ingham and Cairns as a crossing point," he said.
It could be the first cyclone to cross the state's north-east coastline in more than two years.
The system is being fed by a monsoon trough over the north of the country and is expected to track south-west towards Queensland.
If the system continues to develop, forecasters expect to name it tropical cyclone Dylan.
The bureau has warned that the system may combine with king tides later this week.
Parts of the state's north are already experiencing wild weather, with well over 100 millimetres of rain recorded near Cairns.
A severe weather warning for damaging winds, heavy rainfall and abnormally high tides has been issued between Mackay and Port Douglas, with rainfall predictions in excess of 200 millimetres.
A gale warning is also in place extending between Cairns and the Capricornia coast.
The Townsville Port has suspended all commercial shipping operations.
"Larger commercial ships are all the larger ships that are carrying commodities, so ferries and other recreational traffic aren't affected at this stage and the harbour master will continue to make announcements as he sees appropriate," said acting chief executive Ranee Crosby.
Emergency Management Queensland recommends that a home emergency kit contain items such as a portable radio, a torch, spare batteries, essential medications and a first aid kit.
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