Australian Government

Bureau of Meteorology


Coastal Waters Forecast 

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IDD11030

Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology
Northern Territory

Updated Coastal Waters Forecast for the Northern Territory

Issued at 10:26 am CST on Friday 27 February 2026
for the period until midnight CST Sunday 1 March 2026.

Please be aware
Wind 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.

Warning Information

For latest warnings go to www.bom.gov.au, subscribe to RSS feeds, call 1300 659 210* or listen for warnings on relevant TV and radio broadcasts.

Weather Situation

A broad area of low pressure over the Territory directs west to northwesterly winds across coastal waters. Westerly winds will increase in strength from the weekend as a monsoonal surge develops.

Beagle Bonaparte Coast: WA-NT Border to Cape Fourcroy

Forecast for Friday 27 February until midnight

Winds: Westerly 10 to 15 knots, reaching up to 20 knots offshore south of Channel Point during the afternoon and evening. Seas: Around 1 metre, increasing to 1 to 1.5 metres offshore south of Channel Point by early evening. Swell: Below 0.5 metres. Weather: Partly cloudy. 80% chance of showers. The chance of a thunderstorm in the afternoon and evening.

Forecast for Saturday 28 February

Winds: Westerly 15 to 20 knots. Seas: Around 1 metre, increasing to 1 to 1.5 metres during the afternoon. Swell: Westerly below 1 metre. Weather: Cloudy. 95% chance of showers. The chance of a thunderstorm.

Forecast for Sunday 1 March

Winds: Westerly 15 to 20 knots. Seas: 1 to 1.5 metres. Swell: Westerly around 1 metre. Weather: Cloudy. 95% chance of showers. The chance of a thunderstorm.

North Tiwi Coast: Cape Fourcroy to Cape Don

Forecast for Friday 27 February until midnight

Winds: Westerly 10 to 15 knots. Seas: Below 1 metre. Swell: Westerly below 1 metre. Weather: Partly cloudy. 90% chance of showers. The chance of a thunderstorm in the afternoon and evening.

Forecast for Saturday 28 February

Winds: West to northwesterly 15 to 20 knots. Seas: Around 1 metre. Swell: Westerly below 1 metre. Weather: Cloudy. 95% chance of showers. The chance of a thunderstorm in the morning and afternoon.

Forecast for Sunday 1 March

Winds: West to northwesterly 15 to 20 knots. Seas: Around 1 metre, increasing to 1 to 1.5 metres offshore during the morning. Swell: West to northwesterly below 1 metre inshore, increasing to 1 to 1.5 metres offshore during the afternoon. Weather: Cloudy. 95% chance of showers. The chance of a thunderstorm in the morning and afternoon.

Van Diemen Gulf

Forecast for Friday 27 February until midnight

Winds: Westerly 10 to 15 knots. Seas: Below 1 metre. Swell: Below 0.5 metres. Weather: Partly cloudy. 90% chance of showers. The chance of a thunderstorm in the afternoon and evening.

Forecast for Saturday 28 February

Winds: Westerly 15 to 20 knots. Seas: Around 1 metre. Swell: Below 0.5 metres. Weather: Cloudy. 95% chance of showers. The chance of a thunderstorm in the afternoon and evening.

Forecast for Sunday 1 March

Winds: West to northwesterly 15 to 20 knots. Seas: Around 1 metre, increasing to 1 to 1.5 metres inshore. Swell: Below 0.5 metres. Weather: Cloudy. 95% chance of showers. The chance of a thunderstorm in the afternoon.

Arafura Coast: Cape Don to Cape Wessel

Forecast for Friday 27 February until midnight

Winds: Westerly 10 to 15 knots, reaching up to 20 knots offshore east of Maningrida in the evening. Seas: Below 1 metre, increasing to 1 to 1.5 metres east of Maningrida by early evening. Swell: Northwesterly below 1 metre. Weather: Partly cloudy. 90% chance of showers. The chance of a thunderstorm.

Forecast for Saturday 28 February

Winds: Westerly 15 to 20 knots. Seas: 1 to 1.5 metres. Swell: Northwesterly below 1 metre inshore, increasing to 1 to 1.5 metres offshore by early evening. Weather: Cloudy. 95% chance of showers. The chance of a thunderstorm in the morning and afternoon.

Forecast for Sunday 1 March

Winds: Westerly 15 to 20 knots. Seas: 1 to 1.5 metres. Swell: Northwesterly below 1 metre inshore, increasing to 1 to 1.5 metres offshore during the morning. Weather: Cloudy. 95% chance of showers. The chance of a thunderstorm in the morning and afternoon.

Gove Peninsula Coast: Cape Wessel to Cape Arnhem

Forecast for Friday 27 February until midnight

Winds: Westerly 10 to 15 knots, reaching up to 20 knots in the far northeast in the late afternoon. Seas: Around 1 metre. Swell: Northwesterly around 1 metre offshore. Weather: Partly cloudy. 90% chance of showers. The chance of a thunderstorm.

Forecast for Saturday 28 February

Winds: Westerly 15 to 20 knots. Seas: 1 to 1.5 metres. Swell: Northwesterly 1 to 1.5 metres offshore. Weather: Cloudy. 95% chance of showers. The chance of a thunderstorm in the morning.

Forecast for Sunday 1 March

Winds: Westerly 15 to 20 knots. Seas: 1 to 1.5 metres. Swell: West to northwesterly 1 to 1.5 metres offshore. Weather: Cloudy. 95% chance of showers. The chance of a thunderstorm in the morning and afternoon.

Roper Groote Coast: Cape Arnhem to QLD-NT Border

Forecast for Friday 27 February until midnight

Winds: Variable about 10 knots becoming north to northwesterly 10 to 15 knots in the evening. Seas: Below 1 metre. Swell: Below 0.5 metres. Weather: Partly cloudy. 60% chance of showers. The chance of a thunderstorm.

Forecast for Saturday 28 February

Winds: Westerly 10 to 15 knots turning northwesterly in the afternoon. Winds reaching up to 20 knots offshore in the evening. Seas: Below 1 metre, increasing to 1 to 1.5 metres offshore north of Numbulwar. Swell: North to northwesterly below 1 metre. Weather: Partly cloudy. 90% chance of showers. The chance of a thunderstorm.

Forecast for Sunday 1 March

Winds: Westerly 15 to 20 knots turning northwesterly during the afternoon. Seas: Around 1 metre, increasing to 1 to 1.5 metres northeast of Groote Eylandt. Swell: North to northwesterly around 1 metre east of Groote Eylandt. Weather: Cloudy. 90% chance of showers. The chance of a thunderstorm.

Darwin Harbour

Forecast for Friday 27 February until midnight

Winds: Westerly about 10 knots increasing to 10 to 15 knots in the middle of the day. Seas: Around 1 metre. Swell: Below 0.5 metres. Weather: Partly cloudy. 90% chance of showers. The chance of a thunderstorm in the afternoon and evening.

Forecast for Saturday 28 February

Winds: Westerly 10 to 15 knots. Seas: Around 1 metre. Swell: Below 0.5 metres. Weather: Cloudy. 95% chance of showers. The chance of a thunderstorm.

Forecast for Sunday 1 March

Winds: Westerly 15 to 20 knots. Seas: 1 to 1.5 metres. Swell: Northwesterly below 1 metre. Weather: Cloudy. 95% chance of showers. The chance of a thunderstorm.

The next routine forecast will be issued at 2:30 pm CST Friday.

* Calls to 1300 number cost around 27.5c inc. GST, higher from mobiles or public phones. Marine forecasts are also available on VHF and HF radio. View the radio schedule on www.bom.gov.au/marine

Check the latest Coastal Waters Forecasts for information on wind, wave and weather conditions for neighbouring coastal zones.