The Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) has warned the storm will be the worst since Cyclone Yasi in 2011.
The system is about 400 km off Townsville and is due to intensify into a category four system and cross the coast just south of Ayr about 8am Tuesday (local time).
Evacuation orders are in place for low-lying areas in parts of the Burdekin, Whitsunday, and parts Townsville council regions.
"You're going to see people without power for some time, large trees down, roofs damaged," meteorologist Adam Blazak said.