Bligh tells residents told to brace for twin cyclones

Queensland is on an emergency footing as two cyclones threaten the coast.

Cyclones

ANNA Bligh has returned Queensland to an emergency footing as cyclones threaten to rain fresh misery and destruction on the flood-weary state.

Tropical Cyclone Anthony capped its on-off flurry off north Queensland by reforming yesterday and is on track to strike the coast late tomorrow or Monday.

At the same time, authorities were monitoring a developing low pressure system near Vanuatu, which has the potential to create a second and even more powerful cyclone threat next week.

Describing the situation as "potentially very serious", the Premier reactivated the disaster management group that guided Queensland through the opening phase of its flood disaster. "We're battening down the hatches once more, but we hope both these weather formations disappear out at sea somewhere," Ms Bligh said.

The emergence of the cyclones is in line with long-range weather forecasts that nominated late January as a time of peak danger for the storms. Queensland's cyclone season lasts to April.

With rivers brimming across the state and dams full near major population centres, including Brisbane, the danger from Cyclone Anthony extends beyond the force of its destructive winds.

Should it cross the coast, as predicted, it will break down into a rain depression that could deluge the state's sodden south, causing renewed flooding. The Bureau of Meteorology said Anthony formed into a category-one cyclone about 11am yesterday, but was set to intensify into a category-three storm, packing destructive winds of more than 165km/h. On current tracking, it would slam into the coast between Bowen and Cairns late tomorrow or Monday.

Yesterday, it was about 950km northeast of Townsville.

The tropical low hovering further out in the Coral Sea, about 1500km northeast of Vanuatu, will be named Cyclone Yasi if it continues to intensify. It could build into a category-four storm, with 200km/h-plus winds, and be in a position to menace the Queensland coast north of Gladstone by Thursday.

"In a worst-case scenario, Queensland could see two tropical cyclones cross the coast in a matter of three or four days," Ms Bligh warned, adding the outlook was grim as the state grappled with recovering from the disastrous floods that had affected nearly two-thirds of its area, and more than three million people.

Ms Bligh said meteorologists were more concerned with the Yasi storm system because of its intensity. She urged people to remain calm, but to be prepared and secure property.

The cyclone watch issued yesterday for communities between Cairns and Bowen is set to be upgraded to a cyclone warning today.

Deputy Police Commissioner Ian Stewart, reappointed as state disaster co-ordinator, urged people to stock up on food and essential items, and top up car petrol tanks.

Additional reporting: AAP