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Queenslanders are bracing for a tropical cyclone set to bring destructive winds, heavy rainfall and abnormally high tides to the far north of the state from this afternoon.

Cyclone Kimi is expected to make landfall as a category two storm later today, impacting from Cape Melville to Cardwell and affecting areas including Cooktown, Port Douglas, Cairns, and Innisfail.

Gale force winds with gusts up to 130 km/h were expected overnight, before it was warned the system would intensify and cross the coast somewhere near Port Douglas about 4pm.

https://twitter.com/BOM_Qld/status/1350633668784631808?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

The gales may extend inland to Palmerville and Chillagoe, and the area is on flood watch, the Bureau of Meteorology warns.

"As we're seeing the system approaching we may start to see potential for destructive wind gusts in excess of around 130km/h developing as well," Bureau of Meteorology's Kimba Wong told 9News.

"Abnormally high tides, although we're not expecting those high tides to exceed the highest astronomical tides at this stage … and also the potential for some heavy rainfall developing along the north east coast for the next couple of days as well."

State Emergency Services crews have been sandbagging and tarping properties in preparation for the cyclone's landfall.

"For us this means that we put our groups on an alert so they're aware of the weather that's coming, they make sure that their vehicles are operational, that they've got members available to respond in the potential emergencies that we might face," the SES's Eleanor Rosam told 9News.

Meanwhile, a second cyclone is set to trigger gale force winds for Australia's west coast while the state battles severe bushfire conditions today.

Tropical Cyclone Joshua is moving to the west southwest over the central Indian Ocean delivering some wild weather for parts of the WA coast.

https://twitter.com/BOM_WA/status/1350436359148883968

A warning is in place for gale-force winds along the Leeuwin, Albany and Esperance coasts.

Further inland, communities are being warned of severe fire danger due to high temperatures and strong winds.

A bushfire warning is in place for people in parts of Oakford, Casuarina, Wandi, Wellard, Anketell and Oldbury and Kwinana.

A total fire ban is also in place for these areas due to the weather conditions.

Here's your state-by-state weather forecast for Sunday January 17:

New South Wales and ACT

Mostly sunny, cool-to-mild in the northeast. Sunny, cool-to-mild in the southeast. Sunny, mild-to-warm in the southwest. Mostly sunny, very warm in northwest.

Sydney will be sunny with a minimum of 16C and maximum of 26C.

Canberra will be sunny with a minimum of 10C and a maximum of 28C today.

Victoria

Becoming mostly sunny, cool-to-cold in the south. Mostly sunny, warm in the north.

Melbourne will be partly cloudy, with sunny breaks increasing in the afternoon. Daytime temperatures will range between 13C and 21C.

Slight chance of a light shower or drizzle about the Dandenongs this morning.

Queensland

North Tropical Coast to see increasing tropical activity in coming days as a low moves onshore.

There is a strong wind warning for the Cooktown Coast and Cairns Coast as well as flood warnings for areas between Cape Flattery and Ingham.

Severe storms are forecast across southern Queensland including Bundaberg and Gympie.

Brisbane will be partly cloudy with a slight chance of a shower and the chance of a thunderstorm in the west in the afternoon.

Temperatures will range between 23C and 29C.

South Australia

Mostly sunny, mild in the southeast. Mostly cloudy, cool-to-mild in central. Windy, mild-to-warm in the west and north.

Adelaide will have a cloudy morning clearing to a mostly sunny afternoon with a minimum of 14C and maximum of 25C.

Western Australia

Sunny, hot in the southwest. Windy, cool-to-mild in the south. Hot with the odd storm in the north.

Perth will be sunny with temperatures expected to soar to 36C.

Winds E 25 to 35 km/h decreasing to 15 to 25 km/h for a period in the afternoon. Gusts to 80km/h possible about the Darling Escarpment and foothills in the morning.

Northern Territory

Showers/storms, hot in the north-west Top End.

Showers/storms, mild-to-warm in Arnhem. Windy, very warm over the interior. Clearing shower, mild-to-warm in the south.

Darwin will be partly cloudy. Medium chance of showers. The chance of a thunderstorm with gusty winds.

Tasmania

Showers, cool in the southwest. Windy on the highlands. Windy, mild in the southeast. Windy, the odd shower, cool-to-mild in the northwest. Mostly cloudy, mild in the northeast.

Hobart will be cloudy with a medium chance of showers, most likely during this afternoon and evening.

Daytime maximum temperatures between 13C and 19C.

Arsonists are believed to be the cause of a massive bushfire that threatened lives and homes in Perth's south east.

Firefighters have spent a second day battling the fast-moving blaze which has already destroyed more than 250 hectares of bushland.

An emergency bushfire warning was in place for people in an area bounded by Rowley Road, Kwinana Freeway, Mortimer Road, King Road, Thomas Road and Nicholson Road in parts of Oakford, Casuarina, Wandi, Wellard, Anketell and Oldbury and Kwinana.

The warning was downgraded earlier today to Watch and Act, with DFES incident controller Peter Sutton urging residents to enact their bushfire plan.

READ MORE: Category two storm set to batter Far North Queensland

"This still is a precarious situation. The behaviour of the fire could change," Mr Sutton told media this afternoon.

"Firefighters have done a magnificent job to contain this fire, but it is yet to be controlled.

"The cause of the fire is yet to be determined. We're leaning towards suspicious. We ask people to stay clear of this fire."

He said 150 career and volunteer firefighters are battling the blaze.

One house, which is believed to be derelict, is reported to have been lost in the blaze.

The fire started near the Modong Nature Reserve in Oakford but has now spread, forcing people to flee.

"I must admit I've been through a few fires but this has been the worst by miles and when you see 30 to 40 foot flames and you can't even see the choppers through the smoke, it got scary alright," local resident Les Southwall told 9News.

Allan Williams stayed to defend his Casuarina property, telling 9News the blaze burned terrifyingly close to his doorstep.

"There were trees just flashing into fire from ground to the crown," Mr Williams said.

Anyone self-isolating at home due to COVID-19 have also been told to leave and find alternative accommodation with family or friends who live away from the area.

A total fire ban is also in place today as fire services battle difficult weather conditions around the state.

Two young men are fighting for life in hospital after they were thrown from a motorbike in a horror crash in Adelaide.

The men, aged 20 and 21, were thrown about 10 metres into the air after their bike hit a dangerous dip in a road in Prospect early this morning.

In CCTV footage the rider and his passenger can be seen on Guilford Avenue seconds before hitting a ditch at the Maud Street intersection.

Emergency crews arrived on the scene around 1.30am to find the men being helped by an off-duty paramedic who lived nearby.

"I heard them coming down the road, sounded a bit too fast, and a sudden stop and then they were both on the ground," witness John Kukula told 9News.

"(The off-duty paramedic) was getting them on their side and taking the helmet off one of them … I don't know if he had a helmet on … I couldn't see it."

Major crash officers closed the road for more than seven hours today, examining whether speed or other factors played a part in the crash. The incident happened in a 50km/h zone.

9News understands locals have long feared a serious accident would happen at the dangerous dip in the road because the only warning signs are more than 100 metres away.

"It's a problem dip, it hits everyone," resident Christel Crowther told 9News.

"You don't notice the signs until you're on the dip and then you're like well where was the sign? It's too far back."

The City of Prospect has been contacted for comment.

The number of confirmed coronavirus cases linked to the Australian Open has risen to four after a member of a broadcast team tested positive to COVID-19 after arriving in Melbourne on a charter flight.

Head of COVID-19 Quarantine Victoria (CQV) Emma Cassar confirmed the new case today and said two people had received formal warnings for breaching quarantine rules.

"We take all breaches really seriously. For the players, that is a fine of up to $20,000, a warning from the police," Ms Cassar said.

The four infected people – none of whom are players – arrived across two chartered flights carrying tennis players and staff over the past two days.

Ms Cassar said 62 close contacts were now in isolation, including almost 50 players who are unable to leave their rooms after travelling on the same flight as the positive cases.

The latest case arrived on a flight from Los Angeles, the same plane as two earlier confirmed cases in a coach and flight crew member.

A Canadian coach arriving in Melbourne on a flight from Abu Dhabi also tested positive to the virus.

Ms Cassar said all four cases tested negative before boarding and are now residing at the Holiday Inn health hotel.

As a result of the four confirmed infections, training has been pushed back while test results are processed.

READ MORE: New Zealand's Artem Sitak says Australian Open stars should have been aware of quarantine risks

"We just don't take risks in terms of safety," Ms Cassar said.

"We are working with tennis Australia to be back on full day of training tomorrow."

Earlier, Victorian minister Lily D'Ambrosio admitted it's "not ideal" that almost 50 players cannot leave their hotel rooms after travelling on flights with the positive cases.

She pressed the point that players and staff must adhere to Tennis Australia's quarantine rules.

Originally players and coaches were going to be allowed to leave their hotel rooms for five hours a day, but those on the infected planes have been plunged into strict quarantine.

"We know that COVID knows no bounds and no boundaries, whether you're a first class tennis player or a spectator in the audience," she said.

"We need to keep to the clear health advice. It's far from ideal but COVID is not ideal. Rules are rules, no matter who you are."

Ms D'Ambrosio said all efforts were being made to make sure players and staff isolating in their hotel rooms were as comfortable as possible and gym equipment was being provided.

'Zero tolerance' for players breaching quarantine rules

The police presence in Australian Open quarantine hotels is ramping up after Ms Cassar confirmed two people had breached certain rules and could be fined up to $20,000.

"The majority are doing right thing … a small few are testing our procedures," she said.

"It's placing them and our staff and community at risk. Zero tolerance."

One player was warned by police after opening his hotel room door in an attempt to talk to a training partner down the hallway.

"The other (breach) was another gentleman who shouted UberEats to some other people on the floor and was praising himself for his great efforts, and opened his door to do so," Ms Cassar said.

She said if players and their entourages did not adhere to quarantine measures they could be removed.

"The other option is to transfer to a complex care hotel with police outside door," she said.

"These are low level but dangerous acts we can't tolerate."

Ms Cassar said she understood quarantine was difficult but was imperative to keep people safe.

"Quarantine is hard and we know it is a very new and difficult arrangement," she said.

"This is in place to keep them safe and the Victorian community safe – and we make no apologies for that.

One of the two people involved in the breaches is a player and both individuals have received a warning.

She said if anyone in isolation needed assistance they should not open their door and simply pick up the phone.

Coach apologises for positive COVID-19 result

Sylvain Bruneau, the coach of 2019 US Open champion Bianca Andreescu, confirmed he was one of the positive cases.

In a statement on Twitter, Mr Bruneau said he was "saddened and sorry" by the result.

"I am deeply sorry to share that I have just tested positive for COVID-19 upon arrival here in Melbourne, after travelling from Abu Dhabi on flight EY8004," he said.

https://twitter.com/TennisCanada/status/1350489052504596482?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

"I have followed all the safety protocols and procedures, including testing negative within 72 hours before the flight departure and felt perfectly fine when I boarded the plane.

"I also respected and followed all COVID protocols and guidelines while in the Middle East. I have no idea how I might have contracted this virus.

"I am extremely saddened and sorry for the consequences now on everyone's shoulders sharing my flight. The rest of my team is negative and I sincerely hope that any further disruption is kept to a minimum."

READ MORE: Australian Open stars rage after COVID-19 positives force them into hard quarantine

No other positive tests have yet been detected from the Abu Dhabi flight which arrived in Melbourne at 8.20am on Friday.

But testing for passengers and close contacts will continue across the next two weeks.

Players who were on the COVID positive flights cases are unable to train three weeks out from the Australian Open and must do 14 days of strict room-only quarantine.

Players and staff on 15 other charter flights which have arrived in Melbourne and Adelaide from seven international cities face a nervous wait to find out if anyone on board their flight tests positive.

READ MORE: Victoria accused of 'double standards' over Australian Open

Tennis Australia CEO Craig Tiley said despite the controversial cases the Open would still go ahead.

"We are planning on February 8. We have two weeks of some great tennis and our intention is to absolutely continue with those dates." he told Weekend Today.

New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian has criticised her Victorian counterpart for allowing international visitors into the state while continuing to lock Sydneysiders out.

Ms Berejiklian took issue with Daniel Andrews' decision today to lift border restrictions with Greater Brisbane and not Greater Sydney.

The move came as Victoria experienced a COVID-19 spike in hotel quarantine cases linked to international arrivals for the Australian Open.

Forty-seven of the world's elite tennis players remain in hotel quarantine after arriving in Melbourne on charter flights in recent days.

Ms Berejiklian said there was no need for Victoria's restrictions to Sydney to remain given commonwealth health advice which today confirmed there were no COVID-19 local hotspots.

"There isn't anywhere in Australia that's currently being designated as a hotspot," she said.

"So why shouldn't people be able to return home? And why shouldn't Australians be able to move around freely?"

https://twitter.com/NSWHealth/status/1350595341553266690

The Greater Sydney region, including the Blue Mountains and Wollongong, is currently considered a Red Zone by Victoria, meaning entry is not permitted unless you have an exception, exemption, or work or transit permit.

The border closure was lifted to Greater Brisbane after the area was downgraded from a Red Zone to an Orange Zone from 6pm yesterday.

Ms Berejiklian's border comments come as NSW recorded six new coronavirus cases today, including a person who works at Concord Repatriation General Hospital in Western Sydney.

The worker did shifts in the cardiology and radiology wards at Concord Repatriation General Hospital whilst potentially infectious last Tuesday to Thursday (January 12-14).

NSW Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant said officials are contacting staff who worked with the employee, but said they only had 'minimal' interaction with patients.

"There's also a number of staff that have been identified as casual contacts and they're being followed up by the Public Health Unit," Dr Chant said.

"But the person's role involves minimal patient contact and they also wore a face mask during each of their shifts."

Five of the six new cases live in the same household as a single positive case identified yesterday which was linked to the Berala cluster.

Seven close contacts have all tested negative, but have been put into 14-days quarantine.

https://twitter.com/NSWHealth/status/1350308751345999877

There were 12,764 tests reported to 8pm last night – a decline on the previous day's numbers.

Officials repeated calls for people in Western Sydney to get tested, saying it's the only way restrictions such as the size of gatherings will be eased again.

"The areas I'm particularly calling out for testing are in Bankstown, Lidcombe, Auburn, Berala and Wentworthville," Dr Chant said.

Earlier, NSW Health issued fresh COVID-19 alerts after a person with the virus travelled on public transport in Sydney's west.

People who travelled on five trains between Warwick Farm and Auburn are also being considered casual contacts of a positive case.

Anyone who has visited the following locations have been asked to get tested immediately and isolated until they get negative result:

• Train departing Warwick Farm and arriving in Auburn on Thursday January 14 between 2:20pm-2:56pm
• Train departing Auburn and arriving in Warwick Farm on Thursday January 14 between 8:27pm-8:58pm
• Train departing Warwick Farm and arriving in Auburn on Friday January 15 between 10:40am-11:12am
• Train departing Auburn and arriving in Warwick Farm on Friday January 15 between 1:44pm-2:16pm
• Train departing Warwick Farm and arriving in Auburn on Friday January 15 between 4:28am-4:58am

https://twitter.com/NSWHealth/status/1350555948281024512

The locations also include a Centrelink in Auburn and a medical centre in Wentworthville.

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