An emergency alert has been issued for Palm Island amid warnings a cyclone is likely to form off the north Queensland coast, bringing strong winds, heavy rain and abnormally high tides. A tropical cyclone watch is in place between Cape Flattery and Lucinda extending to Mareeba and Atherton. An emergency alert has been issued for Palm Island residents, with gale-force winds and heavy rain affecting the area. Residents are advised to cancel non-essential travel, secure their premises, find a safe place to shelter and stay home. The Bureau of Meteorology says a tropical low is forming along the monsoon trough 200km east of Innisfail and is expected to intensify into a tropical cyclone by Tuesday morning. It says there are a range of scenarios for the cyclone, to be called Niran, but a direct coastal crossing is unlikely. The system is expected to remain off the coast before tracking southeast …