Lurking weather system could become Australia's first tropical cyclone of the season

The first tropical cyclone of the season is set to form off Australia's north-west coast this week, forecasters say.

A tropical low system sitting about 450km off the Cocos (Keeling) Islands, an Australian territory, is gradually moving south towards the nation's cyclone monitoring zone, reports Weatherzone.

Forecast modelling predicts the low will gather strength, with a moderate risk of turning into a tropical cyclone by tomorrow.

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The tropical cyclone season in Australia begins in early November and runs until late April.

Meteorologists usually record nine to 11 tropical cyclones during the period inside Australia's area of responsibility, which covers most of the country bar the southern states.

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All tropical cyclones are given names, and if this low weather system become one, it will be known as Robyn - the first named tropical cyclone of the 2024-2025 season.

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Forecasters say the Australian mainland will not be impacted by the weather system.

It is expected to also avoid the Cocos (Keeling) Islands, but it will be near enough to trigger thunderstorms and rain acrss the islands for the rest of this week.

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