Remote Queensland on cyclone alert

A tropical low in the Gulf of Carpentaria will likely form a cyclone on Sunday afternoon, and is expected to bring rainfall of up to 300mm in some areas in the next 24 hours.

The weather system is tracking in a northwesterly direction around 250km west of the Queensland and Northern Territory border.

The Bureau of Meteorology has warned it will likely swing back over water early on Sunday to form a category one cyclone at about 4pm, with rainfalls of up to 300mm expected in the Gulf islands and along the coast.