NT’s clear skies after severe weather, cyclone watch warnings cancelled

The Bureau of Meteorology has cancelled its warnings after almost a week of wet and wild weather in some NT coastal regions.

The NT is in the clear after a week of severe weather warnings and a cyclone watch for large sections of the Territory coast.

The Bureau of Meteorology has cancelled its severe weather warning for residents of the eastern Arnhem and Carpentaria districts at 4.16am on Thursday.

The Bureau said the “immediate threat of severe weather” had passed but the situation would continue to be monitored.

It said no further warnings would be issued for the weather event.

Cyclone watch cancelled but weather warnings remains for NT

UPDATED 10AM TUESDAY: Severe weather warnings have been issued for large sections of the Territory coast after the region narrowly avoided its second tropical cyclone of the season.

The Bureau of Meteorology said damaging gusts and possible flooding was likely to impact the coastal areas of the eastern Arnhem and Carpentaria districts as the monsoonal trough remained in play.

Strong winds averaging 50-60km/h with possible damaging wind gusts of around 90km/h were predicted over the coming days, after the Cyclone Watch was cancelled late Monday.

⚠️Tropical Cyclone Watch CANCELLED⚠️
Decreasing likelihood of a tropical cyclone forming. The monsoon trough is expected to remain in the Gulf of Carpentaria this week. A severe weather warning is in place for damaging winds and heavy rain. https://t.co/Y3ODTyPbijpic.twitter.com/RkmwrNracH

— Bureau of Meteorology, Northern Territory (@BOM_NT) February 13, 2023

The threat of damaging winds for the regions, which include Groote Eylandt, is expected to ease early on Wednesday.

The Bureau has also warned Groote Eylandt to be wary of heavy rainfall which may lead to flash flooding, with six-hourly rainfall totals expected to be between 100-140mm.

Alyangula and Numbulwar may also be impacted by the monsoonal trough.

The low is expected to strengthen throughout Tuesday with strong north-westerly winds expected to generate large waves across the exposed coasts of the Wessel Islands.

The Cyclone watch cancelled was for ‘Herman’ but authorities have warned the Territory to brace for wild weather. Picture: Bureau of Meteorology

The heavy surf may lead to localised damage and coastal erosion until early on Wednesday.

The significant waves are also expected to effect the exposed coasts across the Carpentaria and Arnhem districts, as well as Groote Eylandt.

It was feared the tropical low could become the second tropical cyclone to hit the Northern Territory coast this season, with experts preparing to declare that Cyclone Herman was brewing off the coast 150km south southeast of Nhulunbuy.

NT Police Superintendent Paul Faustmann said local emergency plans had been activated in anticipation of the storm, and officers were “actively engaged in preparation for the possibility of a cyclone”.

Tropical Cyclone ‘Herman’ could develop by Tuesday, Bureau warns

UPDATED 3PM: A tropical low near the Gulf of Carpentaria could become the second tropical cyclone to hit the Northern Territory coast this season.

The Bureau of Meteorology said the tropical low was about 115km east northeast of Alyangula and 150km south southeast of Nhulunbuy.

The Bureau said the most likely scenario was for the tropical low to “remain below cyclone strength”.

“However, depending on how long the system is over the Gulf of Carpentaria waters, it may develop into a tropical cyclone as early as Tuesday morning, most likely reaching Category One system,” it said.

The Bureau said the system could move south on Wednesday, crossing the Gulf of Carpentaria and weakening over land on Thursday.

⚠️Tropical Cyclone Watch⚠️
For coastal communities from #GrooteEylandt to NT/Qld border, including #Alyangula. A tropical low in the GoC is expected to develop as it moves towards Groote Eylandt. #Wind gusts up to 90km/hr likely on Tuesday morning. https://t.co/j9wMuGNs7Xpic.twitter.com/WmAQmIanfS

— Bureau of Meteorology, Northern Territory (@BOM_NT) February 12, 2023

NT Police Superintendent Paul Faustmann said located emergency plans had been activated and officers were “actively engaged in preparation for the possibility of a cyclone”.

Emergency services urged people in the affected communities and surrounding areas to take action to prepare for a cyclone, and continue to listen for the next advice.

A Flood Watch and Severe Weather Warning for damaging surf is current for parts of the Top End.

Three catchments in the Top End were subject to flood watch warnings, stemming from the effects of the tropical low.

It forecast between 20mm to 40mm over the northeast coastal catchments with isolated totals in excess of 100mm over Groote Eylandt possible from late Monday.

“Significant rises in streams and creeks leading to localised flooding is expected within the flood watch catchments,” the Bureau said.

“This is expected to affect many roads over the remainder of the weekend and into early next week.

“Some communities and homesteads may become isolated.”

The impacted areas were Koolatong River, Walker River and Groote Eylandt.

It comes after the Bureau issued a Tropical Cyclone watch for communities from Groote Eylandt and Alyangula on Sunday.

Bureau NT manager Shenagh Gamble said the watch extended “all around to the Northern Territory and Queensland border”.

“If this system develops into a tropical cyclone, it would be named Tropical Cyclone Herman – provided another system doesn’t develop anywhere else within Australia’s area of responsibility,” Ms Gamble said.

NT Police regional controller Travis Wurst told cyclone-affected communities not to take advice from social media ‘because it might not be actually correct’. Picture Glenn Campbell

NT Police regional controller Travis Wurst urged the impacted communities to prepare in the event the tropical low develops into a tropical cyclone.

“Make sure you have sufficient food, water, understand what your local committee looks like so that if there is any messaging that goes into the community, you know where your shelters are,” he said.

“We know that this particular area has been affected by cyclones over the last few seasons.

“We’re not asking for any alarm here, we’re just trying to be as prepared and give early advice as we possibly can.”

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