Australia is set for a tempestuous end-of-year, with forecasts predicting an 11-cyclone season.

The Bureau of Meteorology says it is a near-average outlook for the year, predicting that four of the super storms will reach landfall.

Luckily, the country is experiencing a changing of the guard between the El Nino and La Nina weather events, leading to a relatively neutral outlook for the season from November to May.

The Bureau does say there is a 57 per cent chance of above average cyclone activity, but predictions are still within a normal range.

Many sectors suffer when Australia is impacted by cyclonic activity. The closure of highways and ports can drastically diminish productivity, sometimes for extended periods after the skies have cleared.

Cyclone Rusty closed the Indian Ocean ports of Cape Lambert, Dampier and Port Hedland, leading to thousand of tonnes of coal and iron backed up along the supply line. Another recent cyclone to strike the country was Yasi in early 2011, which caused around $800 million worth of damage in total across north Queensland.

The storms expected this season will be forming in the tropical waters off the north-east and north-west coasts, the bureau says.

Bureau of Meteorology regional director Rob Webb says Queensland residents should not to be complacent, despite most having weathered several cyclones in the past. There is a 53 per cent chance that more than four cyclones could develop off Queensland during the summer months.