Many Queenslanders are breathing a sigh of relief this week as a strengthening tropical low in the Coral Sea looks unlikely to approach the cyclone-weary state over the coming week.

Northern Qld has been hit by two tropical cyclones over the last two months, with Jasper crossing the coast north of Cairns in December and Kirrily making landfall near Townsville in January.

Earlier this month, there were signs that another tropical cyclone could become the third such system to threaten the Qld coast in as many months. Fortunately, the state now looks to be in the clear of any direct impacts from this developing system.

The satellite images below show a tropical low spinning over the eastern Coral Sea on Tuesday afternoon. This low is hovering over very warm waters that could help it gain strength in the next few days.

According to the Bureau of Meteorology, this low has a 35 to 45% chance of becoming a tropical cyclone from Friday and a 55% chance by Saturday.

The good news for Queenslanders is that the system should remain well away from Australia's east coast as it strengthens and should have little or no direct impacts on the mainland.

The only possible impact this developing low might have on Australia's east coast is an increase in swell during the second half of this week, if it gains strength fast enough.

Impressively, the tropical low currently located over the Coral Sea is part of a larger cloud mass extending across the South Pacific Ocean, making the location of an active monsoon trough. This area of increased convection has already given birth to Tropical Cyclone Nat and may produce other tropical cyclones over the coming week.

You can stay up to date with Australia’s tropical cyclone activity by visiting the Bureau’s tropical cyclone monitoring page. Advisories for tropical cyclones further east can be found on the Fiji Met Service website.