A TROPICAL low will dump heavy rain across Far North Queensland before crossing into the Coral Sea, where it is likely to form into a cyclone.
A wet week is expected across most of the north as a monsoon trough lingers across the Cape York Peninsula.
Bureau of Meteorology meteorologist Shane Kennedy said coupled with a tropical low in the Gulf of Carpentaria which is expected to track east and enter the Coral Sea by Thursday, widespread rain could be expected across the north.
Mr Kennedy said there was a high chance the low would develop into a tropical cyclone by Friday.
If it does, it will be named either Gretel or Harold, depending on whether it forms before another system off Western Australia.
"There is a high chance it will develop into a tropical cyclone by Friday at this stage.
"We are highly confident that it will move south east from the weekend, so it will move offshore fairly quickly.
"There is a risk of heavy falls for most of North Queensland from Wednesday to Friday, extending across the peninsula and eastern coastal areas from Cape York down to Mackay."
Mr Kennedy said widespread falls of between 30mm-80mm could be expected daily, with isolated falls in excess of 100mm a day around the system's centre.
He said another trough inland around Normanton and Richmond would bring showers to the region today.
Mr Kennedy said coastal areas of Queensland had the potential to experience gale force winds later in the week.
The weather is expected to clear from the weekend as the tropical cyclone moves off shore and drags the weather out to sea.
