The current intensity of the system was analysed at 45 knots, moving in an eastwards direction across the northern Coral Sea under the influence of monsoonal flow to the north of the system and an upper level trough over Queensland.

The Bureau of Meteorology reports the latter feature is expected to amplify and retreat a little to the west later in the week, with mid level ridging building to the south of the cyclone, and this combined with the weakening of the monsoon flow should lead to a change to a west southwest track from the latter half of Friday of early Saturday.

Longer term, the Bureau of Meteorology expects the system may approach the northern of central Queensland coast early next week, though there is some uncertainty around whether it will still retain tropical cyclone structure by this time.