NT weather: Warnings issued as Tropical Cyclone Megan forms in the Gulf of Carpentaria
Residents are being warned to take shelter with the cyclone expected to intensify into a Category 3, with wind gusts in excess of 185km/h. Latest weather updates.
Northern Territory
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Tropical Cyclone Megan has formed in the Gulf of Carpentaria on Saturday afternoon, with warnings issued for residents from Groote Eylandt to the Queensland border.
The Category 1 cyclone is expected to intensify to a Category 2 on Saturday night and reach Category 3 in the early hours of Monday.
At 3.30pm on Saturday the weather system sat 150km southeast of Groote’s Alyangula township and the Bureau of Meteorology forecast it would continue to intensify as it moved south slowly over the weekend.
âš ï¸ðŸŒ€ Tropical Cyclone Megan has formed in the Gulf of Carpentaria. A Cyclone Warning has been extended east of the NT/Qld border to Mornington Island. Mornington Island itself remains in a Cyclone Watch. For latest info: https://t.co/NH1ybV1yNg or the BOM Weather App. pic.twitter.com/cCSUDjO7zQ
— Bureau of Meteorology, Queensland (@BOM_Qld) March 16, 2024
Damaging wind gusts of 110km/h were expected to develop over Groote Eylandt through Saturday and could continue into Sunday.
Gales with 100km/h winds may develop between Numbulwar and the Queensland border, including Borroloola, Saturday night or on Sunday.
From late Sunday, destructive winds of more than 125km/h are possible about the southwestern Gulf of Carpentaria coast, near the system centre.
The very destructive core of the cyclone, with wind gusts up to 185km/h, is expected to cross the coast between Nathan River in the NT and the Queensland border from early Monday.
Once over land, the Bureau said Megan should weaken quickly as it tracks west through the Territory.
Intense rainfall is possible around Groote and coastal parts of the Carpentaria District over the weekend.
Heavy rainfall occurring over eastern parts of the Top End was forecast to continue through Sunday.
A separate severe weather warning was current on Saturday evening for heavy rainfall for parts of the Arnhem district for monsoon weather conditions.
Communities in the area of the cyclone warning are advised to enact their household plan, prepare their property immediately, stay informed and take extra care on the roads.
March 16: Cyclone warning issued from Groote to Qld border as tropical low expected to intensify
A tropical low off the Top End coast is forecast to intensify into a cyclone in the Gulf of Carpentaria on Saturday, with warnings for residents at Groote Eylandt to the Queensland border.
The Bureau of Meteorology issued a warning at 8am on Saturday forecasting a Category 1 cyclone to develop about 1pm Saturday, becoming a Category 2 cyclone in the early hours of Sunday.
Damaging wind gusts of 110km/h are expected to develop over Groote Eylandt through the day.
Gales with 100km/h winds may develop between Numbulwar and the Queensland border, including Borroloola, from as early as Saturday evening, though are more likely during Sunday.
Depending how southeast the system moves, 100km/h winds are possible from the border to Queensland’s Mornington Island on Sunday.
From late Sunday, destructive winds of more than 125km/h are possible from the southwestern Gulf of Carpentaria coast, near the system centre.
At 6.30am on Saturday the tropical low was 120km east of Alyangula and 285km northeast of Borroloola, moving slowly towards the southeast.
Sustained winds of 75km/h were recorded near the centre of the weather system, and wind gusts up to 100km/h.
The tropical low is expected to continue to intensify as it slowly moves south.
“While it is most likely to cross the coast on Monday it will be slow moving making both the timing of landfall and intensity at that time quite uncertain,” the Bureau said.
“Once over land, it should weaken quickly as it tracks west over the Northern Territory.”
Meanwhile heavy rainfall is occurring over eastern parts of the Top End and will continue over the weekend.
Communities in the area of the cyclone warning are advised to enact their household plan, prepare their property immediately, stay informed and take extra care on the roads.
March 15: Cyclone watch in place for parts of Top End as tropical low forms
A cyclone watch has been declared for parts of the Northern Territory after a tropical low formed off the Top End coast.
A developing tropical low that has formed in the Gulf of Carpentaria is expected to develop into a cyclone early on Saturday.
The weather system is currently over Nhulunbuy with sustained winds near the centre of 75km/h and wind gusts up to 100km/h.
Speaking to media on Friday afternoon, Rebecca Patrick of the Bureau of Meteorology said communities in the north had already seen a lot of wet weather, and more was to be expected.
“With the low pressure system we have already seen some heavy rain over several kilometres across northern Arnhem communities,” she said.
“With those heavy rain conditions, we are expecting those over the districts of Arnhem to continue and then move further south around the Gulf of Carpentaria.
“Over the weekend, we could see some very heavy rainfall, particularly in those coastal locations and also extending further south as we go into Sunday and early next week.”
It’s expected to move towards the Gulf of Carpentaria and develop into a tropical cyclone while to the east of Groote Eylandt.
The Bureau forecast the system to slowly move south, where it is likely to cross the coast and weaken quickly early next week.
A cyclone watch zone has been declared for Alyangula (Groote Eylandt) in NT to the NT/QLD border, including Borroloola, but not including Ngukurr.
Incident Controller Superintendent Daniel Shean said those regions under threat had already activated emergency plans and households needed to now make their own preparations.
“People living and working in these areas are advised that now is the time to make sure your cyclone plans are finalised,” he said.
“Your emergency kits should be stocked and ready. You should determine now, where you and your family will take shelter if required to do so.
“Heavy rains and flash flooding can be expected so we urge the community to use all safety precautions and do not attempt to cross any flooded roads or crossings.”
Mr Shean also said those in the affected areas should limit their movements and keep an ear on emergency broadcasts.
“Conditions across the eastern Top End will be hazardous this weekend. We encourage everyone to rethink unnecessary travel and avoid unnecessary risks,” he said.
“I encourage people to look at the various internet sites and apps that are available to check weather conditions.
“We do have in the Emergency Operation Center, a phone number people can call who don’t know where websites are or where apps are, so they can source information in relation to weather or road reports and so forth.
“1800 888 901 is the number that you can call and we have people standing by that will take telephone calls and direct people to the right place to source information, so they can stay safe.”
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