Cyclone brewing with northern Australia on flood watch

More people could be evacuated from Australia's flood-hit regions as another cyclone threat looms. (Brian Cassey/AAP PHOTOS)

Northern Australia is battening down the hatches as the weather bureau warns intensifying activity in the Coral Sea will likely result in the formation of Cyclone Kirrily.

While the cyclone won't be officially named until it is properly formed, the Bureau of Meteorology expects Kirrily to develop off the Queensland coast by Monday.