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Cyclone Nathan hits Northern Territory as gale-force winds lash Arnhem Land coast Cyclone Nathan hits Northern Territory as gale-force winds lash Arnhem Land coast
(about 2 hours later)
Tropical cyclone Nathan has made landfall in the Northern Territory as gale-force winds lash the northeast Arnhem Land coast.Tropical cyclone Nathan has made landfall in the Northern Territory as gale-force winds lash the northeast Arnhem Land coast.
The cyclone, which has intensified to a “high end” category two, has moved off the coast and the “destructive core” crossed land between Nhulunbuy and and Cape Shield, with gale-force winds of up to 155km/h.The cyclone, which has intensified to a “high end” category two, has moved off the coast and the “destructive core” crossed land between Nhulunbuy and and Cape Shield, with gale-force winds of up to 155km/h.
“Destructive winds will extend west to Gapuwiyak later this morning and possibly to Elcho Island depending on how quickly the cyclone weakens after landfall,” said Bureau of Meteorology advice. “Nhulunbuy itself experienced the eye wall,” Adam Morgan, senior forecaster at the Bureau of Meteorology, told Guardian Australia.
Nathan is moving north-west at about 15km/h, and is predicted to hit Elcho Island, which was severely damaged by cyclone Lam less than one month ago. “It didn’t get the strongest winds in the eye wall but it certainly got a period of nearly three hours of sustained gale force winds and wind gusts in the 95 to 100km/h range.”
Coastal residents between Groote Eylandt and Nhulunbuy have been warned of a dangerous storm tide significantly higher than usual, with damaging waves and dangerous flooding, and are advised to take shelter now.Coastal residents between Groote Eylandt and Nhulunbuy have been warned of a dangerous storm tide significantly higher than usual, with damaging waves and dangerous flooding, and are advised to take shelter now.
Communities from Cape Don to the Goulburn Islands – where the community of Warruwi was evacuated for Cyclone Lam – are on cyclone watch.Communities from Cape Don to the Goulburn Islands – where the community of Warruwi was evacuated for Cyclone Lam – are on cyclone watch.
The ABC reports trees are down at Wallaby Beach, Nhulunbuy, and winds and seas whipped up by the storm have caused some boats to break mooring, and crash into each other.The ABC reports trees are down at Wallaby Beach, Nhulunbuy, and winds and seas whipped up by the storm have caused some boats to break mooring, and crash into each other.
Residents from Milingimbi to Goulburn Island, including Maningrida and Milingimbi, have been advised to make their final preparations to homes and shelters or decide which public emergency shelter they will use should that advice come through.Residents from Milingimbi to Goulburn Island, including Maningrida and Milingimbi, have been advised to make their final preparations to homes and shelters or decide which public emergency shelter they will use should that advice come through.
Nathan is expected to head back out to sea on Sunday night, making a last stop at Elcho Island as it tracks along the Top End coastline. Nathan is moving north-west at about 15km/h, and is predicted to hit Elcho Island, which was severely damaged by cyclone Lam less than one month ago.
“The storm track hasn’t really changed that much from what we were expecting” in recent days, said Morgan.
“Elcho Island is likely to still experience a high-end category one or low-end category two system if it maintains its strength by the time it gets there.”
Gales were expected to reach Elcho Island on Sunday late afternoon, with one of the main bands of rain arriving after midday.
“They could see a period of six to 12 hours where they’re in gale-force or potentially destructive winds, up to 140km winds if it maintains its category two level.”
More than 200 residents on Elcho Island who were made homeless by cyclone Lam and had been living in emergency tents were moved to Shepherdson College on Saturday. The tent city on the Galiwin’ku football oval was dismantled and packed up in preparation for the storm’s arrival.More than 200 residents on Elcho Island who were made homeless by cyclone Lam and had been living in emergency tents were moved to Shepherdson College on Saturday. The tent city on the Galiwin’ku football oval was dismantled and packed up in preparation for the storm’s arrival.
Emergency services said on Friday the decision had been made because of the danger posed by flying debris in the predicted strong winds.Emergency services said on Friday the decision had been made because of the danger posed by flying debris in the predicted strong winds.
The displaced groups were expected to be living in the tents for up to eight weeks and authorities won’t know until Cyclone Nathan has passed whether damage caused is likely to extend that.The displaced groups were expected to be living in the tents for up to eight weeks and authorities won’t know until Cyclone Nathan has passed whether damage caused is likely to extend that.
It’s then expected to weaken as it moves westward parallel to the Top End north coast on Monday.It’s then expected to weaken as it moves westward parallel to the Top End north coast on Monday.
The cyclone has approached from the east after crossing the Gulf of Carpentaria from Queensland’s Cape York Peninsula where it made landfall as a category four storm but caused minimal damage.The cyclone has approached from the east after crossing the Gulf of Carpentaria from Queensland’s Cape York Peninsula where it made landfall as a category four storm but caused minimal damage.
The storm is expected to pass Elcho Island on Sunday night and head out over water to the north of the north coast as a category one.
“In the atmosphere there is a bit of dry air around … that’ll help to really pull it apart a bit and really weaken it. In the afternoon tomorrow we’re looking at downgrading it to a tropical low,” Morgan said.
The longer term track is still relatively uncertain, Morgan said, but looks to be taking a tropical low to the east of Darwin on Wednesday with increasing rain and thunderstorms and an end to the recent heatwave.