The Bureau of Meteorology is monitoring the development of two weather systems which could strengthen into cyclones today or tomorrow – one off WA and another off the Northern Territory.

A cyclone watch has been issued for the Northern Territory covering coastal areas from Cape Hotham to Kalumburu and includes Darwin and the Tiwi Islands.

According to the 4:44am CST Tropical Cyclone Advice gales could develop as early as tomorrow (Wednesday) morning.

The Weather Channel’s Felim Hanniffy said the system was on its way to producing the seventh tropical cyclone of the season.

“If this system develops sustained winds of 63km/h more than half way around the centre and they persists for at least six hours it would then be classified a tropical cyclone and in doing so become the seventh of the season,” the The Weather Channel meteorologist said.

As at 3:30am, the tropical low was estimated to be 260 kilometres west of Cape Fourcroy and 365 kilometres west of Darwin and moving southwest at 15 kilometres per hour parallel to the coast.

Present indications suggest it may strengthen into a Category 2 system by Wednesday.

The Weather Channel said that another area of cloud and storms off the Pilbara and Kimberley coast of Western Australia associated with a tropical low continued to show signs of better organisation with the potential for too to develop into a cyclone over the coming day.

"Well above average sea surface temperatures off the northern tropics and favorable conditions aloft are conspiring to bring a very activity period of weather across northern parts of Australia,” concludes Hanniffy.

Southern flood update

Meanwhile The Weather Channel reports that settled conditions have prevailed across much of the south-east with dry and sunny conditions helping to alleviate severely flood affected regions thanks to a large area of high pressure which continue to dominate the weather.

Though flood levels are slowly receding, downstream flood peaks are continuing to be an issue as homes are inundated and communities isolated across parts of the south-east of Australia.
In New South Wales, moderate flood levels along Murrumbidgee River at Naranderra were continuing to ease and major flood levels at Darlington Point levels peak have dropped from an overnight peak of 7.95 metres.

Preparations are under way further downstream at Carathool ahead of a major flood peak of 8.8 metres expected by Wednesday.

Flooding along the Lachlan River at Forbes continued to subside with moderate flood levels downstream at Condobolin expected to peak above major by Wednesday while moderate flood levels on the Bogan River at Nyngan are expected to peak on Thursday following renewed river rises.

In Victoria flood levels have dropped to minor downstream on the Snowy River at Orbost.