Tropical Cyclone Lincoln is expected to cross the NT coast as a category 1 system later today, after a tropical low developed in the Gulf of Carpentaria.

It would be the third cyclone to hit Australia in as many months, with storms Jasper and Kirrily causing significant damage in Queensland communities in December and January, respectively.

Lincoln is expected to make landfall between Port McArthur in NT and the NT/Queensland border, and the Bureau of Meteorology has issued a warning for the area between Bing Bong and Mornington Island.

Damaging gusts of 110kmh are expected, along with heavy rainfall and high tides.

“As it moves inland tonight, the system is expected to quickly weaken below tropical cyclone intensity,” the bureau said.

“It will then begin moving west across the NT over the weekend.”

Flooding associated with Cyclone Jasper led to 8700 claims valued at $202 million, and highlighted concerns at the way the Federal Government’s cyclone reinsurance pool operates.

More than 3600 claims have been lodged because of Cyclone Kirrily.