Cyclone Narelle has been upgraded to the maximum category five and could make a historic crossing in Far North Queensland for the first time in 100 years.

One of the biggest cyclones in recent times is barrelling towards the isolated northern tip of the state, forcing hundreds to flee their homes.

It is expected to make landfall about 10am (AEST) Friday morning near the tiny town of Coen, population around 320, north of Cooktown.

More than 100 emergency services personnel have been sent north, with police going door-to-door to ensure locals are prepared.

“The type of wind that is being predicted is the sort of thing that will blow apart sheds, that will blow caravans down roadways and create fields of airborne debris,” Queensland disaster co-ordinator assistant commissioner Chris Stream said on Thursday.

“Those types of objects being propelled at over 100km/h will have a fatal outcome.”

More than 500 millimetres of rain is expected from Thursday across Cape York.

The monster storm was upgraded twice on Thursday morning — from category three to category four and then five — producing wild gusts up to 285km/h.

Queensland Premier David Crisafulli warned residents in the danger zone — from Lockhart River to Cape Tribulation — that it was a “serious” and “significant” event.

Destructive wind gusts and heavy rainfall causing flash flooding could be experienced from Thursday night.

Crisafulli said the state government was preparing for a category five storm. However, the weather bureau has predicted Narelle could weaken to category four.

If Narelle maintained category five, Crisafulli said it would be the first time in a century that a cyclone of that strength had crossed in that location.

“This is a serious event and we are making preparations for a category five cyclone to cross tomorrow morning,” he said.

“Let me give it some context, if a category five system crosses the coast in this location, it will be the first time that’s happened in over 100 years.

“And if a category five system crosses the Queensland coast, it’ll be just the fourth time that’s happened in half a century.

“It’s a serious event, a significant event, and we’re asking people to take precautions and do the little things that make all the difference.”

Cyclone Narelle is tracking towards the town of Coen, north of Cooktown. Photo: BOM

After hitting Cape York, the storm was expected to lash the Northern Territory’s Top End before moving into Western Australia’s Kimberley coast.

About 500 people will be evacuated from NT’s remote Gulf of Carpentaria community of Numbulwar in coming days.

Narelle would be the first category five storm to hit the Queensland since Cyclone Marcia devastated central areas in 2015.

“This has the potential to be a very dangerous weather event,” Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Thursday.

“The Commonwealth stands ready to provide whatever assistance is required for both Queensland and for the Northern Territory.”

Evacuations were under way in isolated towns of the far north, while others are stockpiling food and water.

For now, it is business as usual for Luke Pote who owns Cooktown Orchid Travellers Park, one of the town’s only grocery stores.

“We’ve got heaps of beer, food and fuel — we’re good to go,” Pote said on Wednesday.

“We don’t worry about it until it’s right on our doorstop. There’s nothing you can do about it anyway.

“The generators are ready to go – we plan for the wet season every year. We stock up on potatoes and pumpkins.”

Pote was shocked to discover Narelle was expected to reach category five.

“Really? Wow. I try not to watch the weather, but oh well. She’ll be right,” he said.

“Honestly, it hasn’t been that bad — there’s not too much panic buying yet, I reckon there might be a bit of a rush though if we get hit by a five.

“But there’s not much you can do but wait it out and get ready for the clean-up.”

-with AAP