While the Bureau of Meteorology is loath to predict the course of cyclone many days ahead, the bureau has issued warning updates which now include our Barkly region of the NT.

TC Trevor has now left north Queensland and is again picking up strength as it barrels west across the warm Gulf of Carpentaria.

There is less certainty about TC Trevor's direction now it is in the gulf but most weather models now agree the system, by then a big, wet tropical depression will impact the southern Top End on Sunday.

TC Trevor is likely to cross the NT coast during Saturday as a category 4 severe tropical cyclone, somewhere between Borroloola and Numbulwar.

There is a now a cyclone watch from Nhulunbuy to the NT/Qld border including Groote Eylandt where gale force winds in excess of 65 kmh can be expected from Friday.

The bureau says wind gusts to 120kmh are expected to develop on Groote Eylandt from Friday morning and extend to the mainland coast between Cape Shield and the NT border later Friday.

Gales could also extend further north to Nhulunbuy on Friday if the cyclone takes a more northerly track.

Depending on the movement of the system, very destructive winds with gusts to 250 kmh, heavy rainfall and very dangerous storm tides are expected near the centre of the system as it approaches and crosses the NT coast.

Once the system has moved inland it will weaken but could maintain tropical cyclone intensity for more than 24 hours as it continues to move further inland.

"This system is likely to bring significant rainfall with it, daily falls of 100-200mm are possible at Groote Eylandt and through the Carpentaria district as the system approaches and makes landfall.

"Heavier falls of 200-300mm are possible around the core of the system," the bureau said.

The area of heavy rainfall will be highly dependent on the movement of the system and where it directly impacts the coast.

Heavy rainfall and strong winds are likely to continue inland and may impact the Barkly district this weekend and early next week.

Other areas over eastern Top End may experience severe thunderstorms as bands wrap into the system, warnings will be issued as required.

Severe thunderstorms are possible today but most likely will increase from tomorrow as the tropical cyclone moves closer.

While you're with us, you can now receive updates straight to your inbox each Friday at 6am from the Katherine Times. To make sure you're up to date with all the news, sign up here.