Coral Sea tropical cyclone tipped to develop 40 years after Brisbane's 1974 Australia Day floods A CYCLONE could form on the 40th anniversary of Brisbane's 1974 Australia Day floods this weekend. Weatherwatch forecaster Brett Dutschke said conditions in the Coral Sea were ripe for a cyclone, with the monsoon trough sinking south towards Australia and with Pacific water temperatures about 1C above normal. Even if a cyclone doesn't develop, conditions are providing the best outlook for rain in the drought-hit northwest since last summer. The most likely time for a cyclone to develop in the Coral Sea is Sunday or Monday. The prospects are quite good for the next two weeks. In fact, we might get two cyclones, one in the Coral Sea and one off northwest WA," Mr Dutschke said. At this stage, the Coral Sea event is likely to develop south of the Solomons or in the Noumea area but it's too early to say whether it will travel towards the Queensland coast or away. All I can say is that the chances are quite high. January and February are the most active months for cyclones in Queensland. Conditions were abnormally quiet last month which contributed to the worsening drought. "Prospects for rain are quite good over the next couple of weeks, regardless of any cyclone," Mr Dutschke said. Without a doubt Mt Isa, Richmond, Charters Towers and areas further north have a good chance of getting their biggest falls so far this season. The bureau expects scattered showers and temperatures to 32C for Brisbane and the Gold and Sunshine coasts over the Australia Day weekend. A total of 207 cyclones have hit the east coast since 1858. Cyclone Wanda was behind the Australia Day floods of 1974.