Bad weather prediction for North West

Weather forecasters are still monitoring a weak tropical low that has the potential to be the North West’s first cyclone of the season.

Yesterday, the Bureau of Meteorology was warning of a monsoon trough moving towards the mainland which could form into a cyclone midway through next week if conditions remain favourable.

The bureau today said they didn’t have any update on the warning which involved a weak tropical low in a favourable environment for development far offshore, tracking west-northwest into a region with unfavourable conditions.

On Tuesday, the bureau warned there was a slight risk the system may take a more southwesterly track and move into favourable conditions from tomorrow. In that scenario it would be a low risk to develop by the end of this week.

In the longer term, the monsoon trough is forecast to continue moving further south into the southern hemisphere. As it moves over waters between Indonesia and Western Australia towards the end of the week.

Bureau of Meteorology spokesman Neil Bennett said although advice had not changed, there was a an increase in thunderstorm risk for the Kimberley and if the monsoon trough continued to drift south, the Pilbara coast could be impacted.

Mr Bennett said it was an opportunity for people who were thinking of going away ahead of the Christmas season to tidy up some loose objects and keep them stored away.

The risk increases next weekend for a tropical system to develop south of the Indonesian Archipelago.

Residents in the North West have been warned to prepare for bad weather, stay in contact with neighbours and make sure everything was locked up and secured.