High Alert as Cyclone Threat Nears Darwin This Week
A significant weather event may be headed for the Northern Territory this week, with a high chance of a cyclone forming off the coast near Darwin, according to the Bureau of Meteorology. Residents are being urged to stay alert and prepare for potential impacts as early as Wednesday.
Currently classified as a tropical low, the system is situated a couple of hundred kilometres west of the Tiwi Islands. Meteorologists say it is expected to move away from the Top End initially, but forecasts show it could curve back towards Darwin and surrounding areas. “Environmental conditions are favourable for development, and the risk of this low turning into a tropical cyclone increases as the week progresses,” said Shenagh Gamble, the Bureau’s manager of hazard preparedness and response.
The chance of a cyclone forming is predicted to rise from moderate on Tuesday to high between Wednesday and Monday. If the system develops into a cyclone, it would become Australia’s earliest on record, and its name would begin with the letter “F.” The strength of the cyclone remains uncertain at this stage, and a detailed track map will be issued if a cyclone watch is declared.
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Meanwhile, residents of Darwin and the northern coastline are advised to prepare for heavy rainfall and strong winds, regardless of whether the cyclone fully develops. Some areas have already experienced significant rainfall in the past few days, with more than 200 millimetres falling in a single day near Charles Point—one of the heaviest in a decade.
The NT Emergency Service is stressing the importance of preparation. Deputy Chief Officer Adam White encouraged residents to assemble cyclone kits and decide on safe places to shelter, either at home if it is built to code or at designated community shelters. He also highlighted the need to plan for pets, as shelters will not be able to provide care for animals.
Darwin hasn’t faced a cyclone since Cyclone Marcus struck in March 2018, leaving tens of thousands of properties without power. The city’s most catastrophic cyclone remains Cyclone Tracy in 1974, which caused massive destruction and claimed 66 lives.
While Australia’s cyclone season runs from November to April, cyclones forming this early are rare. Historically, only a handful have made landfall in November, the most recent being Tropical Cyclone Alessia in 2013.
With forecasts suggesting the system could develop into a cyclone as early as Wednesday, authorities are urging everyone in the Top End to monitor updates closely, prepare emergency plans, and ensure they are ready for potentially severe weather over the coming week.
Darwin residents are being reminded: it’s better to be prepared now than to face the storm unready later.
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