Cyclone Blanche to hit Kimberley coast
The Top End has copped record-smashing downpours and strong winds have whipped through the region as Cyclone moves slowly towards northern Western Australia prompting authorities to warn residents to prepare for dangerous weather.
Darwin, which was under warning, was spared the worst of and the city was expected to be back to normal yesterday.
NT Regional Controller, Commander Brent Warren said although Darwin and the rural areas were no longer on cyclone warning, the weather conditions were still expected to be blustery and wet.
Cyclone shelters in the Darwin Supreme Court and Palmerston Senior College have been closed.
But he said warnings remained for Mitchell Plateau to Dundee Beach, including Wadeye. “Communities in the western Top End are still experiencing rain and wind gusts and we remind people to take care and drive to conditions,” he said.
“Communities in the Daly River region, including Wadeye should be aware of river levels and road conditions.”
Damaging winds gusting up to 95 km/h were recorded along the NT’s Bathurst Island coasts, where a record 384mm of rain fell while winds blowing at up to 80 km/h ripped through Darwin on Sunday. The category one system formed on Sunday morning south of the Tiwi Islands and was heading southwest. It was expected to intensify to a category two by the time it crosses the Kimberley coast later yesterday.