Cyclone zeros in
A TROPICAL Cyclone Warning has been issued for parts of the Territory, as a tropical low developing over water in the Gulf of Carpentaria is expected to make landfall as a category two cyclone tomorrow.
The system, which last night was positioned over water southeast of Nhulunbuy and east of Groote Eylandt, is expected to reach cyclone strength during the first half of today.
A TROPICAL Cyclone Warning has been issued for parts of the Territory, as a tropical low developing over water in the Gulf of Carpentaria is expected to make landfall as a category two cyclone tomorrow.
The system, which was last night positioned over water east northeast of Groote Eylandt and north northwest of Mornington Island, is expected to reach cyclone strength during the first half of today.
A Tropical Cyclone Warning was issued yesterday evening for the stretch of coast between Cape Shield in the NT to Kowanyama in Queensland, including Numbulwar, Borroloola, Mornington Island, Sweers Island and Groote Eylandt
A Tropical Cyclone Watch will remain in place from Mornington Island to Kowanyama, including Burketown and Karumba, and nearby inland areas between Ngukurr and Burketown.
BOM manager Todd Smith said the system was expected to move in a general south-westerly direction from today and cross the coast before making landfall somewhere between Borroloola and Mornington Island tomorrow.
“We’re expecting it to reach category two intensity before crossing the coast,” he said. “We’re not expecting a severe tropical cyclone in the
Gulf (but) we can’t rule it out.”
If the cyclone does form it will be called Esther.
Mr Smith said the system was likely to bring a lot of rainfall and potential gale force winds to regions on the Gulf coast.
“The McArthur River especially – we’re expecting to see 200-300mm of rainfall over that Monday Tuesday period so a flood watch is current for those coastal rivers,” he said.
A marine wind warning is also in effect advising of strong winds along the Arafura Coast, Gove Peninsula Coast and Roper Groote Coast. A Gale Warning has been issued for the Gove Peninsula Coast for today, as well as a Storm Force Warning for the Roper Groote Coast.
Superintendent Daniel Shean of NT PFES said no evacuations are expected at this stage, but urged residents of the communities in the impacted areas to be ready.