A cyclone may form off the Kimberley coast next week.

A cyclone may form off the Kimberley or Pilbara coast next week.

The Bureau of Meteorology said a weak circulation was expected to form in the Arafura Sea today or tomorrow.

This system was forecast to track towards the west and into the Timor Sea over the weekend.

Model guidance continues to fluctuate and have a range of scenarios and as such there is a large degree of uncertainty involved with this system forecast.

While there is still a wide range of scenarios regarding timing, location and strength of this system, most models show a significant system in the region by Tuesday or Wednesday.

The system is likely to be in the Timor Sea on Saturday and as shear across the system decreases over the weekend, the system is expected to develop.

By Monday the system could be in the area anywhere from northwest of Broome to still in the Timor Sea.

And by Wednesday locations of the system range from over the Timor Sea/north Kimberley coast to well off the Pilbara coast or even close to or crossing the Pilbara coast.

If the low moves along the track indicated in this forecast it is possible that it will reach tropical cyclone intensity by Tuesday in the area north of Cape Leveque. However, there are still a range of other scenarios indicating later or no development of the system.

As the system is likely to spend time over open water and be in a favourable environment, it is possible that it will reach at least category three mid to late next week.