<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Australia's staring down the barrel of an earlier-than-expected monsoon season and it may arrive before </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/christmas" rel="" target="_blank" title="Christmas"><span>Christmas</span></a><span>, though not all states and territories will be affected.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Based on the current </span><a href="https://www.weatherzone.com.au/news/australian-monsoon-onset-possible-before-christmas/1891090" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" title="Weatherzone"><span>Weatherzone</span></a><span> modelling, parts of </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/queensland" rel="" target="_blank" title="Queensland"><span>Queensland</span></a><span>, the </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/northern-territory" rel="" target="_blank" title="NT"><span>NT</span></a><span> and northern </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/western-australia" rel="" target="_blank" title="WA"><span>WA</span></a><span> are set for a drenching when monsoon rainfall begins next week.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>It may also cause wet conditions in other parts of the country as moisture from the monsoon spreads to rain-bearing systems farther south.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>LIVE UPDATES:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/bondi-beach-shooting-live-updates-accused-gunman-charged-victims-laid-to-rest-political-anger-growing/53d96844-9a46-44e9-84f7-06d91c5911a2" target="_blank"><strong><span>Alleged Bondi gunman charged with 15 counts of murder</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The exact timing and strength of the active monsoon phase is yet to be confirmed.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Meteorologists will be watching conditions closely as the monsoon develops.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Northern Australia experiences a wet season every year between November and April.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/australia-monsoon-before-christmas/aee18fb5-8696-4151-8f53-dabb12ab3b0d" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>During that time, the region typically experiences between two and four active phases of the monsoon, which is a reversal of winds that brings huge bursts of rain.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>These active phases cause strong winds and heavy downpour.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>They can also cause low-pressure systems, which may increase the potential for tropical cyclone activity if they're over open water.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>And it looks like the first active monsoon phase of the season will hit northern Australia right before Christmas.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/rob-reiners-son-nick-appears-in-court-on-2-counts-of-murder-in-killing-of-his-parents/fbbf210e-c493-46ac-adf2-1fd961cdd5f0" target="_blank"><strong><span>Rob Reiner's son Nick appears in court on two counts of murder in killing of his parents</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/oporto-ceo-therese-frangie-secrets-to-success/5562562c-8a5d-43de-9b15-48199c8633bb" target="_blank"><strong><span>Three words Oporto CEO Therese Frangie swears by when you're trying to land a new job</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>It's expected to arrive on the back of a </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/weather-heat-spreading-across-australia/cb5aa72d-7c39-4cb1-a998-99cd926102a9" rel="" target="_blank" title="heat wave"><span>heat wave</span></a><span> in many parts of the country this week.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>A mass of hot air from Australia's western coast is currently sweeping across the nation, sending temperatures surging in WA, SA, Victoria, the ACT, NSW, and Queensland.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Even Tasmania will be feeling the heat today.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Some cities are predicted to record temperatures in the high 30s and low 40s today and tomorrow, with the hot conditions expected to ease over the weekend.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/how-to-follow-9news-digital/29855bb1-ad3d-4c38-bc25-3cb52af1216f" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>DOWNLOAD THE 9NEWS APP</span></em></strong></a><strong><em><span>: Stay across all the latest in breaking news, sport, politics and the weather via our news app and get notifications sent straight to your smartphone. Available on the</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://apps.apple.com/au/app/9news/id1010533727" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>Apple App Store</span></em></strong></a><span> </span><strong><em><span>and</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nineNewsAlerts.nine.com&amp;hl=en_AU&amp;pli=1" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>Google Play</span></em></strong></a><strong><em><span>.</span></em></strong></div></div>