"It is an extremely powerful weather system," the Bureau of Meteorology's Angus Hines said as Tropical Cyclone Narelle drew ever closer.
"They do not get more powerful than this."
Narelle is poised to cross Queensland's far north as a maximum category five system after intensifying in the Coral Sea, producing wind gusts up to 285km/h.
The monster storm is expected to make landfall about 10am AEST on Friday near the remote community of Coen, north of Cairns, triggering downpours and ferocious winds that could "blow apart sheds".
It is set to be the first category five system to hit Cape York since Cyclone Mahina killed more than 300 people in March 1899.
Wind gusts of up to more than 250km/h are expected to be unleashed when the system makes landfall - strong enough to destroy infrastructure, uproot trees and down powerlines.
A cyclone warning zone has been declared extending from Lockhart River south to Cape Tribulation.
Vulnerable residents have been evacuated, tourists have returned home and schools have closed.
More than 100 emergency services personnel have been deployed as police go door-to-door to ensure locals are prepared.
After crossing Cape York, the storm is expected to lash the Northern Territory's Top End before moving to Western Australia's Kimberley coast.
About 500 people will be evacuated from NT's remote Gulf of Carpentaria community of Numbulwar in the coming days.
Residents choosing to ride out the storm have been warned emergency services will not respond if conditions are too dangerous.
However, some far north Queensland residents reckon they will be fine - they have beer.
"Everyone's line of thought is that you can't actually do anything during a cyclone, so let's have a beer," Tim Layton, of Greenhoose family-run accommodation near the Lockhart River, told AAP.
"Let's make it a cyclone party because there's going to be one hell of a clean-up."
His family is no stranger to storms, with flooded roads every wet season ensuring the only way in or out is by plane or barge.
"We're all battened down," Mr Layton said.
"The generators are primed, fingers are crossed and hoping for the best - the calm before the storm, right?"
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