Weather News

Top End cyclone risk

Ben Domensino, Thursday March 15, 2018 - 11:25 AEDT

A low pressure system has developed to the north of Australia and it may become a tropical cyclone during the coming days.

The low developed within a monsoon trough, which is currently producing masses of thick cloud across the Arafura and Timor Seas.

During the next 48 hours, this monsoon trough, the low pressure system and its associated cloud are all expected to drift southward and move over the Northern Territory's Top End.

Wind and rain will increase along the northern coast of the Top End and the Tiwi Islands during Friday, before spreading further inland on the weekend.

Rain and storms may increase over the western Top End, including Darwin, and parts of Western Australia's Kimberley on Saturday and Sunday.

The position of the low during the coming days will determine where the heaviest rain and strongest winds develop, and how likely it is that Australia will see its next tropical cyclone.

While over open water, the low is in an environment that's conducive to cyclone development. As it moves closer to land, increased friction against its wind may hinder cyclone development.

According to the Bureau of Meteorology, there is a moderate chance that this low will develop into a tropical cyclone from Friday onwards.

Visit http://www.bom.gov.au/cyclone for the latest tropical cyclone information.

- Weatherzone

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