The Bureau of Meteorology says there’s a high chance that a cyclone will travel towards the central Queensland coast this week amid an increase in tropical storm activity across northern Australia.

“A direct tropical cyclone impact or landfall is not expected for the Queensland coast at this stage, however large waves and strong winds are likely with the passing of this system,” the bureau says. “The system is forecast to track near Norfolk Island on the weekend.”

Current monsoon troughs to the north-west and north-east of the country have become sites of tropical low and cyclone formation.

Cyclone Freddy formed offshore WA yesterday and has reached category two strength. The system is forecast to move away from the coastline as it intensifies in open waters.

Two other lows in waters surrounding northern Australia are expected to reach cyclone strength this week, and there’s an increased risk of activity across the Australian region in the next fortnight, the bureau said today.

The system that is expected to approach Queensland in the next few days has formed south of the Solomon Islands and is moving southwest in an environment considered favourable for it to strengthen.

There’s a high chance the low will develop into a tropical cyclone late tomorrow and into Thursday. The system may intensify over coming days to reach category three strength on Friday.

The pick-up in activity follows a lull since Cyclone Ellie formed in December, with category one intensity. After becoming a tropical low, the system spent two weeks over the NT and Kimberley region of WA where it caused significant flooding on the Fitzroy River.

The first cyclone of the season, named Darian, formed in December west of the Cocos (Keeling) Islands and remained distant from mainland Australia.