Australia on alert for tropical development next week

By Courtney Spamer, AccuWeather meteorologist

The atmospheric conditions could turn favorable for tropical development in the waters surrounding Australia into next week.

In the Indian Ocean, northwest of Australia, conditions look favorable for tropical development towards the weekend.

Typically, warm water temperatures and low wind shear are the best conditions for tropical systems to form.

"A tropical low could develop just south of Bali or Java, Indonesia, this weekend, just east-southeast of Christmas Island," said AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Jason Nicholls.

Should these conditions persist, it is possible that a tropical depression could form by early next week.

At this time, there is a low chance that this low could become strong enough to be classified as a tropical cyclone.

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During this time, the system is likely to roam the Indian Ocean, heading west, and it would most likely not directly impact mainland Australia.

"Regardless of intensity, this system could spread enhanced rainfall and perhaps even some gusty winds to Christmas Island and the Cocos Islands into early Wednesday," Nicholls added.

Several other lows will be present in the waters surrounding Australia, including those farther west in the Indian Ocean as well as in the Timor Sea. However, at this time, these lows are not expected to become more severe storms.

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