Cyclone could form off Northern Territory, weather bureau says

A cyclone over Australia’s Top End in 2006. The chances of an intense tropical low forming in waters off the Northern Territory this week have increased. Photograph: Bureau of Meterology

The chances of a cyclone forming in waters off the Northern Territory on Tuesday or Wednesday have increased, according to the Bureau of Meteorology.

The bureau has raised its cyclone outlook warning for the northern region from low to moderate. That means there is a 20% to 50% likelihood of a storm system forming in waters north of the NT on Tuesday or Wednesday.

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A tropical low is forming in the monsoon trough in the Arafura Sea, above the Tiwi Islands north of Darwin. It is expected to develop further early next week and move south-west into the Timor Sea, the bureau says.

“The likelihood of the low developing into a tropical cyclone increases late on Tuesday or on Wednesday,” the bureau’s cyclone advice says. “The system is forecast to affect the north Kimberley coastline from mid-week as it continues to move away from the NT region.”