Possibility of pre-Christmas cyclone

There is a chance the North West could see its first cyclone of the season before Christmas next week, potentially causing problems for those looking to escape for the festive season.

The Bureau of Meteorology is warning of a monsoon trough moving towards the mainland which could form into a cyclone mid way through next week if conditions remain favourable.

A weak tropical low is currently in a favourable environment for development far offshore, however is tracking west-northwest into a region with unfavourable conditions.

BoM has warned however that there is a slight risk that the system may take a more southwesterly track and move into favourable conditions from Thursday.

In this scenario it would be a low risk to develop by the end of this week.

In the longer term, the monsoon trough is forecast to continue moving further south into the southern hemisphere. As it moves over waters between Indonesia and Western Australia towards the end of the week.

The risk increases next weekend for a tropical system to develop south of the Indonesian Archipelago.

Residents in the North West have been warned to prepare for bad weather.