Weakened Penny to soak Far North Qld

Ex-tropical cyclone Penny is expected to bring storms and heavy rain as the system moves toward the Queensland coast.

Despite being downgraded, the system is expected to generate severe weather around the coast from Mackay to Cooktown.

"As it comes near the coast on the south side of the system we probably will see some areas of gale force winds," meteorologist Gordon Banks said.

There are gale warnings in place for late Monday for the Townsville Coast, Mackay Coast and Great Barrier Reef Offshore.

Mr Banks said there would be heavy rainfall across the northern tropics.

Penny made landfall near Weipa on Tuesday as a category one cyclone, with wind gusts up to 120 km/h recorded on the west of the peninsula.

It's remained slow-moving since it crossed Queensland and moved into the Coral Sea late on Wednesday.