A tropical low in the Coral Sea is now expected to develop into a cyclone on Wednesday afternoon.
The system is currently sitting 870 kilometres north northeast of Mackay and is continuing to track south-southwest.
It’s forecast to strengthen to a category one tropical cyclone later today and will be named Gabrielle.
Tropical Cyclone Gabrielle is then expected to strengthen to a category two by Thursday morning.
It will strengthen further throughout Thursday and is forecast to become a category three by the afternoon.
Gabrielle is tipped to then track southeast on Thursday.
IMAGE: BOM
The system is expected to remain well offshore with no direct impact on the Queensland coast.
However, it will deliver strong winds and large swells over the next few days.
A strong wind warning remains in place for the Townsville, Mackay and Capricornia coasts for Wednesday, extending to the Fraser Coast, Hervey Bay and Sunshine Coast on Thursday.
Swells are expected to reach 3 to 4 metres, with the most hazardous conditions expected on the Gold Coast on Friday and Saturday.
IMAGE: Windy.com
