Arafura Coast Forecast: Cape Don to Cape Wessel

View the current warnings for the Northern Territory

Forecast issued at 10:00 am CST on Saturday 22 February 2020.

Weather Situation

A monsoon trough is developing over the Gulf of Carpentaria as a westerly surge extends through the Arafura Sea. A tropical low has formed within the monsoon trough. The tropical low is developing and is likely to develop into a tropical cyclone on Sunday. Initial movement of the tropical low will likely be slow before moving in a general south to southwest direction towards southwestern parts of the Gulf of Carpentaria later in the weekend.

Forecast for Saturday until midnight

Strong Wind Warning for Saturday for Arafura Coast

Winds
Westerly 15 to 20 knots, reaching up to 30 knots offshore in the late evening.
Seas
1.5 to 2 metres.
Swell
West to northwesterly below 1 metre inshore, increasing to 1 to 1.5 metres offshore.
Weather
Cloudy. 95% chance of rain east of Maningrida, 70% chance elsewhere. A thunderstorm likely.

Sunday 23 February

Strong Wind Warning for Sunday for Arafura Coast

Winds
Westerly 20 to 30 knots.
Seas
2 to 3 metres.
Swell
West to northwesterly below 1 metre inshore, increasing to 1 to 1.5 metres offshore.
Weather
Cloudy. 80% chance of rain. A thunderstorm likely.

Monday 24 February

Winds
Westerly 20 to 30 knots.
Seas
1.5 to 2.5 metres.
1st Swell
Northwesterly below 1 metre inshore, increasing to 1 to 1.5 metres offshore.
2nd Swell
Northeasterly around 1 metre.
Weather
Partly cloudy. 50% chance of showers. The chance of a thunderstorm.

Please be awareWind and wave forecasts are averages. Wind gusts can be 40 per cent stronger than the forecast, and stronger still in squalls and thunderstorms. Maximum waves can be twice the forecast height.

Nearby Coastal Waters

QLD - Torres Strait - Coastal Waters Forecast QLD - North East Gulf of Carpentaria - Coastal Waters Forecast QLD - South East Gulf of Carpentaria - Coastal Waters Forecast WA- North Kimberley - Coastal Waters Forecast Roper Groote Coast Forecast Gove Peninsula Coast Forecast Arafura Coast Forecast Van Diemen Gulf Forecast North Tiwi Coast Forecast Beagle Bonaparte Gulf Forecast

The next routine forecast will be issued at 4:00 pm CST Saturday.

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