NT:NT cyclone now expected on Xmas Day

AAP General News (Australia)
12-23-2011
NT:NT cyclone now expected on Xmas Day

DARWIN, Dec 23 AAP - Weather forecasters say a low pressure system off Australia's
northern coast is expected to become a cyclone early on Christmas Day.

A vast expanse of coast that includes Darwin and Arnham Land is on cyclone watch.

Updated weather advice pushes back the timing of the potential cyclone, which had earlier
been tipped to form on Christmas Eve.

Supervising meteorologist at the Bureau of Meteorology, Richard Wardle, said on Friday
that a tropical low expected to become a cyclone was currently situated on the Arafura
Sea, just north of the Tiwi Islands.

The low, which forecasters had earlier tipped would turn cyclonic on Christmas Eve,
was now expected to become a cyclone early Sunday.

"When we say `early' we are talking about 3am or 4am, as opposed to 8am or 9am," Mr Wardle said.

"We are hesitant to give out times because it could be 1am, or 11pm on Saturday," he added.

He said the organisation of the storm had improved overnight, giving forecasters a
clearer picture of when it could become a cyclone.

"Before there were a number of focuses of activity in terms of convention, and that
is now starting to organise itself and that will potentially lead to it strengthening
over the next day or two," Mr Wardle said.

If it does become a cyclone its effect should be felt over Northern Australia quite
quickly, although it is uncertain where it would make landfall, authorities have said.

A cyclone watch continues between Dundee Beach, southwest of Darwin, and Nhulunbuy,
on the northeastern tip of Arnhem Land.

"We still don't have a handle on where this system will move if it does develop," Mr Wardle said.

Authorities have warned people within the watch area to put together an emergency kit,
clear their yards and balconies and commence home shelter preparations.

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KEYWORD: CYCLONE

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