Tropical low in the Gulf could head west, drenching the Top End on its way

Two weeks after we stared down Cyclone Seth, the Territory faces another big blow as a tropical low forms in the Gulf of Carpentaria.

A TROPICAL low forming in the Gulf of Carpentaria could develop into a significant Territory weather event next week.

Boffins at the Bureau of Meteorology believe the next 24 hours will be crucial in determining the course of the weather system.

“The low hasn’t formed yet. We’re expecting it to form in the Coral Sea in the next 24 hours and the expectation is it will begin to move westward across the Gulf of Carpentaria in the middle of next week,” senior forecaster Sally Cutter said on Friday.

“When it forms in the Coral Sea early next week it will move across Cape York into the Gulf of Carpentaria and has potential to reach cyclone strength. We will monitor the situation like we do whenever there’s a monsoonal low over water.

“Even if it just moves onshore into the Territory as a tropical low it could still produce a substantial amount of rainfall through the Carpentaria and southern Arnhem districts.”

Meanwhile, clear skies and temperatures in the 40s are expected in Alice Springs and Tennant Creek early next week.

Originally published as Tropical low in the Gulf could head west, drenching the Top End on its way