Tropical Cyclone Anthony is tracking slowly towards the Queensland coast, with a cyclone watch already in place for coastal areas from Innisfail to Saint Lawrence.

Anthony has been teasing Queenslanders over the past week after he developed off the northeast coast near Willis Island. While many had thought the cyclone was out of the picture after it moved away from the coast, Anthony had other plans taking a drastic U-turn.

The Category one cyclone is still over 900km east northeast of Townsville and is slowly tracking to the southwest. Gaining energy from the warm waters of the Coral Sea, Anthony is expected to intensify slightly as he approaches the Queensland coast.

By late Sunday, damaging winds may develop about coastal and island communities between Innisfail and St Lawrence. Anthony should then cross the coastline near Townsville sometime from late Sunday into the early hours of Monday.

Heavy rainfall is also expected to develop over the northeast, mainly affecting the Central Coast and Herbert and Lower Burdekin Districts.

– Weatherzone.com.au