As of Friday morning Owen was a Category 3 cyclone 95 km northeast of Port McArthur and 250 km northwest of Mornington Island packing winds near the centre of 140 kph with wind gusts to 195 kph.

The cyclone is regarded as severe and will continue to move east over the southern Gulf of Carpentaria and strengthen.

The warning zone stretches from Port McArthur (NT) to Aurukun (Qld) including Mornington Island, Karumba, Kowanyama and Pormpuraaw with a watch zone extending inland from Karumba to Aurukun to Georgetown, Chillagoe and Coen.

The cyclone is moving east southeast at 8 kph and started moving in an easterly direction late Thursday. The system is like develope further over the next 12 to 24 hours as it moves east over open waters through a favourable environment possibly reaching Category 4 intensity during Friday.

A coastal crossing along the southeast Gulf of Carpentaria coast between Gilbert River Mouth to Pormpuraaw later Friday or early Saturday is likely.

Owen will then weaken as it moves southeastwards inland over the southern Cape York Peninsula.

Preparations for self-evacuation began on Mornington Island began on Tuesday.

Mornington Shire Council CEO Frank Mills said they are working closely with the state government to get more flights over the next couple of days to assist in the process.

“A lot of council accommodation is not safe for people to stay in during any period of cyclonic weather so we are looking at the self evacuation of around 60-80 staff over the next two days,” Mr Mills said.

“If the threat of the cyclone becomes stronger than a Category three then a lot of other people will want to self evacuate too. Its about having processes in place, we are one of the most cyclone prone places in Australia, there is no cyclone refuge or shelter here.”