A tropical low presently off the northwest of the Top End could develop into a cyclone as early as tomorrow, the Bureau of Meteorology said today.

Satellite data suggest the low will continue to intensify and could threaten the same Pilbara coast areas in northwestern WA that were affected by Cyclone Veronica just over a week ago.

Cyclone Wallace, if it does occur, will be the eighth storm of the season. Australia has about 10-13 tropical cyclones on average each season and four typically cross the coast.

“A severe weather warning is current across the northwest Top End, including Darwin and the Tiwi Islands, for damaging winds and heavy rainfall leading to flash flooding,” Meteorologist Jonathan How said.

“We’re already seeing heavy rain develop around the system, and some coastal communities across the Cobourg Peninsula and Tiwis may see daily totals in excess of 150mm, with wind gusts to 100km/h reaching further south into the Daly and northwest Arnhem districts.

“At this stage, the tropical system is not expected to impact land areas of the NT at cyclone strength. However, it may have impacts on some northern coastal locations of WA from as early as tomorrow.

“As such, a cyclone watch has been issued for communities between Kalumburu and Cockatoo Island.”

Cyclones Veronica in WA and Trevor in the NT left significant damage last month, but the heavy rain from the cyclones brought much-needed rain to the parched areas of western and central Queensland, southeastern NT and the Pilbara.

More than 2000 NT residents were evacuated before Trevor approached, the biggest such operation in the territory since Cyclone Tracy in 1974.