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Tropical Low Nears Northern Australia, Raising Cyclone Fears
18 Nov
Summary
- Tropical Low 02U developing north-west of Darwin
- Heavy rain and thunderstorms already battering Top End
- Rare for cyclones to hit mainland Australia in November
As of 2025-11-18T06:53:10+00:00, a tropical low designated as Tropical Low 02U has been developing north-west of Darwin over the Timor Sea. The Bureau of Meteorology has warned that environmental conditions are favorable for this low to intensify into a tropical cyclone, with an increasing risk of this occurring on Wednesday or Thursday.
The Top End region has already experienced heavy rain and thunderstorms in recent days, with Charles Point recording a staggering 196mm of rainfall within just three hours on Monday. This brought the 24-hour total for the area to 228mm, the highest daily rainfall in the region in over a decade.
Tropical cyclones making landfall on the Australian mainland in November are extremely rare, with only four such events recorded previously. The most recent was Tropical Cyclone Alessia in 2013. Residents in the western and northern Top End have been advised to closely monitor the forecasts and ensure they have an emergency plan in place, as the tropical low continues to develop and potentially turn into a cyclone.
