A POSSIBLE cyclone may be forming may be forming in seas north of the Northern Territory.
If it forms, it will be called Blanche.
The Bureau of Meteorology has this issued a warning saying a tropical low in the north east Arafura sea is expected to intensify and move in a south-westerly direction towards the northern NT coast during the next couple of days.
There is a moderate (20-50%) chance that the low will reach cyclone strength on Saturday, the bureau says.
If a tropical cyclone does form, it is not expected to reach severe cyclone intensity (Category 3, 4 or 5) while in Territory waters
Increasing rainfall and strengthening winds are expected across the northern NT coast from later in the weekend, and into next week, the bureau said.
The BoM will issue a Tropical Cyclone Watch when coastal and island communities are likely to be affected by gale force winds within the next 24-48 hours
The next tropical cyclone to form in the Australian region will be named Cyclone Blanche.
Meanwhile, the bureau is forecasting rain to return to Katherine on the weekend with some weather websites tipping up to 20mm could fall.
Katherine finished February with 322.4mm against an average of 241.5mm.
The March average for the town is 170mm.
Our total for the year is 767.2mm against the total at the same time last year of 214.4mm so there has been a big turnaround in the wet.
The bureau yesterday said it expected an “active north Australian Monsoon to redevelop”.
“The current inactive phase of the Australian Monsoon is forecast by international models to revert to an active phase in the coming week,” the bureau said.
“It is expected that wind surges from both north and south of the Australian tropics will feed into the currently weak monsoon trough located to Australia’s north.
“This will reinvigorate the monsoon trough, resulting in an increase in windiness and rainfall over parts of northern Australia and the Maritime Continent.”
During the current tropical cyclone season, Australia has only observed two tropical cyclones to date: Yvette and Alfred, the bureau said.
“This is well below the average number of 11 cyclones per season in the Australian region.”
Chris McLennan
ACM national rural property writer based in Bacchus Marsh, Victoria. Career journalist. Multi award winner.
ACM national rural property writer based in Bacchus Marsh, Victoria. Career journalist. Multi award winner.
