A cyclone watch has been cancelled but northern Australia is still bracing for wild weather as a tropical low approaches.
Emergency crews are ready and sandbag stations are in place in towns along Queensland's far north coast, with heavy rain, flooding and damaging winds forecast on Friday as a tropical low tracks northeast of Cairns.
A cyclone watch for the region was cancelled on Thursday after the system was considered a very low chance of intensifying before hitting the coast.
The "disconnected" tropical low was likely to reach the coast by Friday afternoon between Cairns and Townsville before moving southwest into central Queensland at the weekend, the Bureau of Meteorology's Angus Hines said.
Cassowary Coast Mayor Teresa Millwood said emergency services were ready to deploy in Innisfail and Cardwell, and sandbag stations were ready if people needed them.
Residents had been advised to have their emergency plans in place, to get supplies they needed and to be ready to leave before their homes flooded, she said.
"You never know until it actually happens but we're prepared," she told AAP.
"Basically we just sit back and wait now."
Hinchinbrook Shire Mayor Ramon Jayo said his community had been warned to expect heavy rain and high winds overnight but major flooding was not expected.
"We've got a load coming at us ... but we're ready," he told AAP.
"We just got rid of a major flood last Monday and we're lining up again for some more flooding."
The usual warnings about floodwaters had gone out to residents who knew the drill, he said.
"They're restocking their pantries in case they are stranded for a period of time due to floodwater."
Heavy rain was already building in a warning area from Port Douglas north through to Cooktown on Thursday and might lead to significant flooding, with 24-hour rainfall totals up to 350mm.
Other parts of the state would also cop severe weather as the system crossed the coast on Friday, Mr Hines said.
The coast from Townsville down to Mackay will also be an area to watch.
"Then this tropical low pressure area continues to plunge into central Queensland, and that is going to expand the area of impact across most northern and eastern parts of the state," Mr Hines said.
Heavy falls could continue over north Queensland but might also stretch down through the Central Coast, Capricornia and into the Wide Bay region, around Bundaberg and Hervey Bay.
The impacts could also be felt in southeast Queensland at the weekend, Mr Hines said.
Strong winds in coming days might lead to property damage, trees and power lines down and power outages, he said.
Southeast Queensland residents have been asked to keep track of forecasts, especially for rain on Sunday.