Nora weakens but far north warned to stay on guard

QUEENSLAND authorities have warned people in the state’s far north the threat from Tropical Cyclone Nora is not yet over, despite it weakening after crossing the coast early yesterday morning.

The cyclone was downgraded to a category 2 storm after crossing the western coast of Cape York.

It was expected to continue to weaken to a tropical low, but a heavy rainfall and wind gust warning remained in place for far north inland Queensland, and the Bureau of Meteorology warned a cyclone could reform as it moved across the Gulf of Carpentaria. There were no reported deaths or injuries in the remote region.

“Thankfully everyone is safe at this time,” Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk told reporters after a briefing yesterday morning.

But authorities were quick to warn that Nora was still causing heavy rains and strong winds, with 15-20cm of rain falling in the Hinchinbrook region and leaving many roads covered in water.

Emergency Services Commissioner Katrina Carroll said: “The event isn’t over – people still need to listen to authorities in those areas.”

Cape York residents were being reminded to stay indoors due to potential wind gusts up to 150km/h as the system tracked south.

Four schools will be closed today – at Pormpuraaw, Kowanyama, Karumba and Burketown – due to damage. Pormpuraaw lost power yesterday.

SES leaders and extra police have been deployed to remote communities and swift-water rescue crews have also been stationed along the western Cape York coast.