Emergency services are working to evacuate people as BOM predicts cyclone to rapidly intensify

MASS evacuations are underway as emergency services and Defence personnel work to move Territory residents into areas of safety as Cyclone Trevor is predicted to ‘rapidly intensify’ to a Category 3

A NASA satellite image of Cyclone Trevor taken on Thursday afternoon

MASS evacuations are underway as emergency services and defence personnel work to move people into areas of safety as Cyclone Trevor is predicted to ‘rapidly intesify’ to a Category 3 in the Gulf of Carpentaria.

The latest information from the Bureau of Meteorology indicates the current Category 2 cyclone — which is predicted to become a severe tropical cyclone — will be a Category 3 system by Thursday evening.

Groote Eylandt residents wait to be evacuated by RAAF planes on Thursday morning. Picture: Stefan Turley

Schools have been closed as cyclone shelters have been flung open.

NT Emergency Services chief officer Jason Collins asked residents right throughout the warning zone to be prepared.

“Do not be complacent. Still prepare your homes and ensure you are well stocked,” he said.

“For those that are preparing for evacuation you need to include important documents and medication.”

Watch our latest Weather Update on YouTube at https://t.co/pKLLftZk5q re #CycloneTrevor. Video current at 10 am AEST Thu. 21 March. Check warnings on our website; follow advice from emergency services. @ABCemergency @ntpfes @QldFES pic.twitter.com/FFq5zW5hJL

— Bureau of Meteorology, Australia (@BOM_au) March 21, 2019

NT Bureau of Meteorology managre Todd Smith said the cyclone hadn’t intensified as quickly as expected so far.

“It is likely that we will see a severe tropical cyclone on our hands in the Gulf of Carpentaria by (Friday) morning,” he said.

“The expectation is for the very destructive core of Tropical Cyclone Trevor to cross the coast somewhere between Groote Eylandt and Borroloola, so residents need to really listen to advice from emergency services.

A STATE of emergency has been declared as #NorthernTerritory residents in the firing line of #CycloneTrevor are evacuated @TheNTNews @BOM_NT https://t.co/QZUXQEbR44

— Phillippa Butt (@phillippabutt) March 21, 2019

He said the system was looking to reach a Category 4 but had the potential to reach a Category 5.

“It’s certainly possible. Currently it’s a (Category 2) cyclone but we are expecting to see a rapid intensification over the next 12 to 24 hours,” he said.

Residents being evacuated from Groote Eylandt by the RAAF. Picture: Stefan Turley

“That’s why we have a Category 4 cyclone on the track map. If the system continues to intensify rapidly over the 48 hour period that it has over water then certainly it could reach a Category 5 intensity, but we will need to see how it develops over the next 12 to 24 hours.”

He said the track map showed the cyclone moving to the south closer to Borroloola.

Wind gusts up to 250km/h are expected.

“The system is going to be a very big system, large in geographical extents, so gale force winds extending some 200-300km from the centre,” he said.

“As it approaches the south west it’s also going to generate a storm surge.”

Foskey pavillion is ready for 500 people to try and get some sleep tonight, after they’re evacuated from areas vulnerable to #TCTrevor @TheNTNews pic.twitter.com/CxK8vKr2Fi

— Will Zwar (@zwar_w) March 21, 2019

.

List of remote cyclone shelters:

■ Angurugu School, Angurugu, Groote Eylandt

■ Umbakumba School, Umbakumba, Groote Eylandt

■ Milyakburra Cyclone Shelter, Bickerton Island

■ Mamaruni School, Crocker Is (Multi-purpose hall)

■ Shepherdson College, Galiwinku (Multi-purpose hall)

■ Warruwi School, South Goulburn Island (Multi-purpose hall)

■ Maningrida School Library building, Maningrida

■ Milingimbi (Community operated shelter), Milingimbi Island

■ Ramingining School (Multi-purpose hall), Ramingining

■ Gove District Hospital, Nhulunbuy

■ Wugularr School, Beswick

.

Looks like a dining area is being set up inside Rotary Hall for hungry mouths to get a feed. Who knows how much they will eat over the next few days #TCTrevor @TheNTNews pic.twitter.com/d2JKkpPOzS

— Will Zwar (@zwar_w) March 21, 2019

The Department of Education has advised that the following schools are closed from Thursday:

■ Alyangula School

■ Angurugu School

■ Milyakburra School

■ Ngukurr School

■ Numbulwar School

■ Robinson River School

■ Umbakumba School

■ Urapunga School

.

Tropical Cyclone Trevor is expected to intensify over the eastern Gulf of Carpentaria through today. #CycloneTrevor https://t.co/AWJKLhynnl pic.twitter.com/AFtiFr6SuG

— Bureau of Meteorology, Northern Territory (@BOM_NT) March 21, 2019

Current road closures

■ Carpentaria Highway

■ Tablelands Highway

■ Roper Highway including Numbuwar and Ngkurr

■ Nathan River Road

■ Woolagorang Road

■ Bing Bong Road