Weak low may have cyclone potential
A "disorganised low" in the Arafura Sea off the Northern Terrority could form into a cyclone and move towards the Gulf of Carpentaria, northwest of Cairns.
The bureau's latest cyclone outlook notes there is a small chance, or up to 20 per cent possibility, that the weak tropical low could form into a cyclone tomorrow or Saturday in Australia’s northern region, which includes the Gulf of Carpentaria.
By Sunday, there is up to a 50 per cent chance a cyclone will form in that region.
Darwin weather bureau duty forecaster Greg Browning said conditions were favourable for a cyclone forming within days.
He said the low was 450km northeast of Gove in the Northern Territory and while its most likely path was to head in a westerly direction, it could head towards the Gulf.
"By mid next week, it could swing around and head towards the Gulf," he said.
"We are expecting it to track west and intensify over the weekend and in the short-term it is unlikely to head towards the Gulf."
Mr Browning said the low was currently over warm water and surface winds were ideal for the formation of a cyclone.
"Right now it's disorganised," he said.
"There are a clump of thunder storms with gaps between them and at this stage it is not spinning on a particular axis."
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