Inconsistent weather for Xmas this year

It will be a tale of two Christmases in Australia this year, with a warm and sunny day forecast for the southeast while those in the north might need a brolly as they unwrap their presents.

The Bureau of Meteorology expects Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth and Hobart to be warm and dry with temperatures ranging between the mid 20Cs and high 30Cs on Christmas Day.

But it will be a soggier affair in Canberra, Brisbane and Darwin where showers and storms are forecast.

"So it'll be a typical Christmas Day," senior forecaster Philip Landvogt told AAP on Monday.

"It's quite warm but it looks like it will be good weather to get out and about."

Meanwhile, forecasters are keeping a close eye on a tropical low that's developing in the Timor Sea off Australia's north-west Kimberley coast.

Mr Landvogt said if the low develops further over the sea there is a chance of a cyclone forming.

"We expect it to develop on Wednesday or Thursday and it will develop fairly close to the coast so it might be a short-lived cyclone ," he said.

"But there's a lot of uncertainty about whether it will develop."

CHRISTMAS DAY FORECASTS

* Brisbane 28C, possible shower

* Sydney 28C, sunny

* Canberra 32C, possible shower

* Melbourne 30C, sunny

* Hobart 25C, sunny

* Adelaide 37C, sunny

* Perth 35C, sunny

* Darwin 32C, showers and thunderstorms

(Source: BOM)