The Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) is not ruling out issuing a cyclone watch as Category 2 storm Oma barrels towards the Queensland coast, and could even make landfall in the southern part of the state.

Packing wind gusts of 155kmh, Oma is currently 1100km to the northeast of Brisbane and heading ever closer to the state’s southeast coast, the bureau says in an update this afternoon.

Based on current projections, the storm is on track to approach the Queensland coast over the weekend.

“Cyclones are always a challenge to forecast and often have a life of their own,” BOM meteorologist Adam Morgan said. “In terms of exactly how Oma will track, the devil will be in the detail, and much of that details will become clearer over the coming days.

“It is very uncommon for tropical cyclones to move so far south and potentially impact along the southeast Queensland coast, but it’s not unprecedented. In our history, we’ve even seen cyclones in NSW.

“Again, there’s a lot of detail still to become clear about exactly how Oma will eventually track and develop.

“But it is likely that we’ll need to issue a cyclone watch for parts of the southern Queensland coast as cyclone Oma moves closer to account for the risk of coastal gales and heavy rainfall.”

The likely scenario is for heavy rainfall especially along the coast and adjacent inland south of Bundaberg as Oma approaches.

Rain would most likely develop from late Saturday, and the risk would be enhanced if Oma eventually makes landfall.

A severe weather warning is already in place for abnormally high tides south of the town of Seventeen Seventy, where king tides are being exacerbated by the heavy swell generated by cyclone Oma.

“We could see significant beach erosion and inundation of low-lying areas,” Dr Morgan said.

“She’s likely to have a few twists and turns left in her yet, and forecasts and warnings may change rapidly as new information comes to hand.”

Meanwhile, in WA the number of firefighters have doubled to 180 as they seek to quell an out of control bushfire in an area popular with holidaymakers.

Aerial tankers have also been deployed to help with the fire in parts of the town of Balingup. Two houses have been destroyed, according to the latest update.

In northern NSW, firefighters continue to monitor and patrol the fireground around a series of destructive bushfires and strengthen containment lines.