It's moving eastwards over the southeast Gulf waters and strengthening.

Charlotte is likely to be upgraded to a category 2 cyclone early Monday morning.

It's then expected to cross the Gulf coast around 140km north of Kamumba on Monday morning, then head south-east in the general direction of Carins.

It should, however, lose intensity over land, become downgraded to a tropical low and then turn due south halfway across Cape York, before it reaches Cairns.

Gales are expected to extend at least 220km from the centre on the north of the system, and up to 150km to its south.

These gales may affect coastal areas between Aurukun and the NT/Qld border during the next 24 hours, the Bureau of Meteorology says.

Coastal residents are warned of a likely dangerous storm tide as the cyclone crosses the Gulf coast.

The sea is likely to rise steadily up to a level well above a normal tide, with damaging waves and flooding of some low-lying areas close to the shoreline.

Very heavy rainfall and flooding is expected in the southeast Gulf Country.

Cyclone Charlotte is predicted to bring heavy falls, with Innisfail and Cairns areas already receiving 50-70mm of rain.

In north-west Queensland, the rain-soaked and flooded Mt Isa, Cloncurry and Boulia Shires estimate damage costs to local roads and public infrastructure at $22 million.

Heavy rain has fallen the in area since New Year's Day. (See Map).

But the overall benefit to the region, especially in the cattle industry, should far exceed the immediate losses to buildings and infrastructure.

Boulia Shire Mayor Rick Britton, for instance, described the widespread rain and flooding as 'the first genuine monsoonal Wet in 30 years - a great start for the north-west cattle country'.

And, in time, the Wet will be of huge benefit for regions farther south, as inland rivers flow towards the Channel Country in south-west Queensland.

Mt Isa City Council Councillor and a resident of the outskirts of the city, Duncan Cunningham said many of the road links to the regions remain cut at Camooweal, Julia Creek and McKinley.

Help with the floods and damage to infrastructure has been needed in the shires of Diamantina, Doomadgee, Etheridge and Winton.