A cyclone watch has been issued for parts of the Top End and Western Australian coastline, as the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) warns a category two cyclone could form west of Darwin in the coming days.
The watch extends from Point Stuart in the NT to Kalumbaru in WA, with the bureau warning gale force winds and heavy rain could impact the coast between the Tiwi Islands and Wadeye from Friday.
The tropical low currently in the Timor Sea is expected to form into a cyclone late on Friday night.
BOM NT manager Shenagh Gamble said there was "a lot of uncertainty" about the likely strength and path of the storm in the coming days.
"If it does develop into a cyclone and takes a more south-easterly track towards Darwin, the Darwin community could expect to experience gale force winds sometime over the weekend," she said.
"If the system does cross the coast around Darwin, we would expect that it would be sometime later on Saturday, possibly into Sunday morning."
But she said the storm could "just as easily" take a south-westerly track towards WA's Kimberley region.
She said whether the storm intensified to category two strength or stronger depended on how long it stays over water.
People within the watch zone, including residents on the Tiwi Islands, are advised to prepare for strong weather and monitor for updates.
NT Emergency Services regional manager Mark Cunnington said he expected most residents to stay on the Tiwi Islands during the storm.
"There's not necessarily a cause for concern, but if people do plan to evacuate form the islands, now is the time to do it," he said.
"Don’t wait until there is heavy weather already appearing."
Flood warning issued as heavy rains forecast
The bureau has also warned flooding could cut roads across much of the NT's north-west, with a flood warning issued for much of the region.
"Many parts of north west Top End coast can expect to receive rainfall totals of 150-200mm over the next three days," a warning issued by the bureau said.
"Significant rises in streams and creeks leading to localised flooding is expected in many areas along the north west coast of the Northern Territory."
Forecasters said the heavy rains were coming off the back of a strong wet season, which could exacerbate flooding.
"North west coastal catchments have received good rainfall totals for the wet season to date with catchments quite wet in many parts and creeks and streams still flowing," the bureau said.
"Rivers and creeks can be expected to rise strongly with further rainfall."
