Aussies have been warned to brace themselves as a tropical cyclone forms off the Western Australian coast and Queensland prepares for as much as 700mm of rain. 

Tropical Cyclone Hayley is currently a category one system and is sitting 535km north-west of Broome, with projections it will strengthen to a category two system by Monday afternoon.

The Bureau of Meteorology has set up a watch zone from Broome to Cockatoo Island, with wild weather expected to hit the Kimberley coast by Wednesday or Thursday.

Queensland is bracing for flash flooding with weather warnings issued for heavy and locally intense rainfall across much of the state, extending from Mackay to Cairns, the far west of the state and up towards Gulf Country. 

'A monsoon trough extends across the northwest and contains an embedded low pressure system located southeast of Burketown,' BoM said in a statement.

'This low is expected to continue strengthening as it gradually tracks south to southeast. 

'Over the Northeast Tropical Coast, enhanced onshore winds are forecast to strengthen and converge today. Together, these systems are likely to generate widespread heavy rainfall across parts of northern Queensland.'

More than 300mm is expected for western Queensland on Wednesday, with as much as 600mm in more isolated areas, while four-day totals of rainfall are expected to reach more than 700mm on the northeast tropical coast in areas surrounding Cairns. 

Aussies have been warned to brace themselves as a tropical cyclone forms off the Western Australian coast and Queensland prepares for as much as 700mm of rain (pictured, heavy and intense rainfall expected for northwest Queensland)

Queensland is bracing for flash flooding with weather warnings issued for heavy and locally intense rainfall across much of the state, extending from Mackay to Cairns, the far west of the state and up towards Gulf Country (pictured, flooding in Cairns in 2023) 

More than 300mm is expected for western Queensland on Wednesday, with as much as 600mm in more isolated areas, while four-day totals of rainfall are expected to reach more than 700mm on the northeast tropical coast in areas surrounding Cairns 

BoM meteorologist Jonathan How said the impacts could be severe.

'With heavy rain leading to flash and riverine flooding that will pose a risk to property and life so make sure you follow all the advice from your local authorities,' he said.

'Additionally, heavy rainfall will lead to road closures and community isolation, and this could last for quite some period of time, especially for outback and more remote communities. 

'We are expecting impacts to agriculture, particularly to cattle and livestock, with low temperatures and floodwaters expected to last for an extended period of time.'

Locations which may be affected include Mount Isa, Cloncurry, Burketown, Mornington Island, Normanton, Cairns, Innisfail, Tully, Doomadgee, Richmond, Julia Creek, Camooweal, Ingham, and Croydon.