Cyclone Guba far north Queensland

FAR north Queensland residents are bracing for the first cyclone of the season with Guba predicted to become a category three by tomorrow.

Residents from Cooktown to Torres Strait have been warned to batten down ahead of the first of up to a dozen cyclones expected to threaten the coast in coming months.

Category one tropical cyclone Guba formed yesterday afternoon about 140km northeast of Lockhart River, the weather bureau said.

Lockhart River Sgt Dave Holmes said police would hold a morning briefing on the threat in the township today.

Strong winds and showers battered the remote community late yesterday as workers began tying down building materials and loose objects.

"At the moment it is hovering off the coast, not doing much," Sgt Holmes said.

"But if it does intensify and move this way we will have to start talking with the local residents about contingency plans."

Emergency crews have warned of roof and structural damage and likely power blackouts if a category three storm hits coastal communities.

Forecaster Geoff Doueal said Cyclone Guba - named by PNG forecasters - was likely to become a category three storm, with winds of up to 227km/h, by tomorrow.

"We're not saying it won't hit the coast. It is just not a direct threat at present," Mr Doueal said.

The Centre for British Tropical Storm Risk, which monitors conditions in the Coral Sea, has warned that Queensland faces the most active storm season since 1998.

At least six out of a dozen cyclones are expected to cross the coast this season, between November and April.

Separately, severe thunderstorms producing gusts of 95km/h hit western Queensland late yesterday.