The Bureau of Meteorology this afternoon said the low is moving steadily in a westward direction, and is expected to turn towards the south east during tomorrow.

“At 2pm today, we issued a precautionary Tropical Cyclone Watch for coastal communities between Milingimbi and Cape Shield in the north eastern Top End, including Nhulunbuy, Yirrkala and Elcho Island,” a bureau spokeswoman said.

“The TC Watch is a heads up for the possibility of gale force winds in the watch area from Friday this week

“There is a high chance #CycloneNora will form during Friday, and the system is forecast to track into the Gulf of Carpentaria during the weekend as a Category 2 system

“Environmental conditions are favourable for possible intensification into a severe tropical cyclone later this weekend or early next week

“The forecast for the Darwin region this weekend is a slight to medium chance of a shower or storm with light winds – the effects of #CylconeNora are unlikely to be felt in the north western Top End

“Tropical cyclones in the Gulf of Carpentaria are notoriously erratic in their movement – we will continue to provide updated information every six hours, and every three hours when we move into the TC Warning phase (gale force winds expected within 24 hours).”