The Bureau of Meteorology issued a cyclone watch for parts of the Northern Territory on Friday morning, saying there would be a "high" chance of tropical low 09U developing into a cyclone.
The warning comes just a month after ex-tropical Cyclone Lincoln crossed the NT coast in the southern Gulf of Carpentaria as a category 1, bringing high wind, heavy rainfall and minor to moderate flooding.
A tropical low is forecast to develop into a tropical — Bureau of Meteorology, Australia (@BOM_au) #cyclone Saturday morning in the #GulfofCarpentaria, and is most likely to cross the #NT coast early next week. Latest track maps and updates, head to https://t.co/VRWX6YDrNx pic.twitter.com/CmOUrOYW48March 15, 2024
NT Incident Controller Superintendent Daniel Shean said the operations centre had been preparing for the latest event since Monday.
"Communities across the Top End have adequate food supplies, critical goods and essential services to last through this weather event," he said.
"It has been fast moving and local controllers in each one of the communities have been engaging."
Police in the communities have been warning residents of the oncoming threat.
The weather system is lying near the eastern coast of the NT, with a monsoon to the north that is moving towards the Gulf of Carpentaria.
The watch zone includes the Alyangula community on Groote Eylandt across to the Queensland border, including Borroloola but not including Ngukkur.
It is forecast to reach category 2 intensity with winds between 126 and 164km/ph.
Parts of the top end are already experiencing heavy rainfall, which is likely to increase over the weekend.
The heaviest falls are expected on coastal and island locations on Saturday, before reaching further inland into the Carpentaria district on Sunday.
The weather event will then weaken and is likely to move west through the NT as a tropical low, bringing heavy winds and rain.
The BOM has also issued dangerous surf warnings along the Arafura Sea, with gale-force winds likely to bring waves of up to 4.5 metres.
The heavy surf could lead to coastal erosion and damage in parts of the north Arnhem district on Friday.
Residents in Galiwinku and Cape Wessel have been warned to stay away from coastal areas as the cyclone forms over the region.
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