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Cyclone Nathan strengthens off Arnhem Land as communities evacuated Cyclone Nathan strengthens off Arnhem Land as communities evacuated
(35 minutes later)
Tropical cyclone Nathan continues to strengthen as it moves across the Arafura Sea north of Arnhem Land and is expected to intensify to category three on Monday, though communities in its path have so far escaped significant damage. Tropical cyclone Nathan continued to strengthen as it moved across the Arafura Sea north of Arnhem Land on Monday and was expected to intensify to category three, though communities in its path had so far escaped significant damage.
A state of emergency has been declared on Goulburn Island and the evacuation of the remote Warruwi community to Darwin began early on Monday. It is the second time in less than one month the small community of about 420 people has had to leave for the mainland before a cyclone. A state of emergency was declared on Goulburn Island and the evacuation of the remote Warruwi community to Darwin began early on Monday. It is the second time in less than a month that the community of about 420 people has had to leave for the mainland before a cyclone.
The destructive core remains off the coast of northern Arnhem Land, less than 50km from Milingimbi, which bore the full force of the destructive category four cyclone Lam in February. The destructive core remained off the coast of northern Arnhem Land, less than 50km from Milingimbi, which bore the full force of the destructive category four cyclone Lam in February.
The evacuation of Warruwi, where there are no houses or buildings considered up to cyclone code, was decided overnight and remains the priority for emergency services. The evacuation of Warruwi, where there are no houses or buildings considered up to cyclone code, was decided overnight and remained the priority for emergency services on Monday.
“The objective is to have everyone off the island by the end of the day,” said the Northern Territory emergency services director, Andrew Warton.“The objective is to have everyone off the island by the end of the day,” said the Northern Territory emergency services director, Andrew Warton.
“We’re well prepared this time, as we were last time,” Warton told ABC local radio. “There is very little complacency out there.”“We’re well prepared this time, as we were last time,” Warton told ABC local radio. “There is very little complacency out there.”
The evacuees will be sheltered at the Darwin showgrounds.The evacuees will be sheltered at the Darwin showgrounds.
Warruwi residents prepare to leave their homelands in the face of Tropical #CycloneNathan, currently a 150kmh Cat 2 pic.twitter.com/KnQ9bcNKlOWarruwi residents prepare to leave their homelands in the face of Tropical #CycloneNathan, currently a 150kmh Cat 2 pic.twitter.com/KnQ9bcNKlO
The storm has slowed down significantly overnight to about 8km/h, allowing it to strengthen as it sits over the warm waters of the Top End. It is moving north-east and predicted to make landfall as a category three on Tuesday. The storm slowed significantly overnight to about 8km/h, allowing it to strengthen as it sat over the warm waters of the Top End. It was moving north-east and was predicted to make landfall as a category three on Tuesday.
“Destructive winds with gusts to 155km/h are expected to develop on the coast between Maningrida and Goulburn Island in the early hours of Tuesday morning and increase further near Goulburn Island to very destructive winds with gusts to 195km/h during Tuesday morning,” the Bureau of Meteorology said.“Destructive winds with gusts to 155km/h are expected to develop on the coast between Maningrida and Goulburn Island in the early hours of Tuesday morning and increase further near Goulburn Island to very destructive winds with gusts to 195km/h during Tuesday morning,” the Bureau of Meteorology said.
Gales gusting up to 120 km/h continued to impact Elcho Island after the cyclone passed over on Sunday night. Gales gusting up to 120 km/h continued to batter Elcho Island after the cyclone passed over on Sunday night.
“It was pretty horrible – cat two, strong winds – but generally, overall, it went really well, people stayed in the shelters, we had police in the shelters,” Sergeant Ian Hamblyn of the Galiwin’ku police told Guardian Australia.“It was pretty horrible – cat two, strong winds – but generally, overall, it went really well, people stayed in the shelters, we had police in the shelters,” Sergeant Ian Hamblyn of the Galiwin’ku police told Guardian Australia.
“That helped [mitigate] any problems we had with the previous cyclone when people wanted to leave. I’ve just done a drive round the community and it seems like there’s not too much damage.“That helped [mitigate] any problems we had with the previous cyclone when people wanted to leave. I’ve just done a drive round the community and it seems like there’s not too much damage.
“We’ve still got no power, no internet, but the landlines have started working again – we had no landlines last night either. One building lost its roof, but I think that building was pretty dodgy anyway from the last cyclone.”“We’ve still got no power, no internet, but the landlines have started working again – we had no landlines last night either. One building lost its roof, but I think that building was pretty dodgy anyway from the last cyclone.”
More than 200 people on Elcho Island were made homeless by cyclone Lam in February. An emergency tent city set up on Galiwin’ku football oval to house them was dismantled on Saturday in the leadup to Nathan and people were moved to an evacuation centre.More than 200 people on Elcho Island were made homeless by cyclone Lam in February. An emergency tent city set up on Galiwin’ku football oval to house them was dismantled on Saturday in the leadup to Nathan and people were moved to an evacuation centre.
It’s not yet known if this second cyclone will extend the time people have to remain in the emergency tents.It’s not yet known if this second cyclone will extend the time people have to remain in the emergency tents.
Communities from Croker Island to Elcho Island are subject to a cyclone warning, and Croker Island to Cape Don are on cyclone watch. A storm tide is expected between Maningrida and Elcho Island. Communities from Croker Island to Elcho Island were subject to a cyclone warning, and Croker Island to Cape Don were on cyclone watch on Monday. A storm tide was expected between Maningrida and Elcho Island.
There is still heavy rain in Nhulunbuy, where the cyclone warning has been cancelled after Nathan passed over it as a category two overnight. There are no reports of injuries or significant damage. There was still heavy rain in Nhulunbuy, where the cyclone warning had been cancelled after Nathan passed over it as a category two overnight. There were no reports of injuries or significant damage.
Initial assessments found the Nhulunbuy airstrip sustained “minor to light” damage. It is open to medical emergency aircraft but not public flights. Schools will be open as usual on Monday. Initial assessments found the Nhulunbuy airstrip sustained “minor to light” damage. It was open to medical emergency aircraft but not public flights. Schools were due to be open as usual on Monday.
“Nhulunbuy itself experienced the eye wall,” Adam Morgan, senior forecaster at the Bureau of Meteorology, told Guardian Australia on Sunday.“Nhulunbuy itself experienced the eye wall,” Adam Morgan, senior forecaster at the Bureau of Meteorology, told Guardian Australia on Sunday.
“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.”“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.”
Residents from Nhulunbuy to Alyangula have been advised it is safe to leave shelters but warned to wear strong clothing and footwear and remain alert.Residents from Nhulunbuy to Alyangula have been advised it is safe to leave shelters but warned to wear strong clothing and footwear and remain alert.
The cyclone has not deviated significantly from its projected path, which has it crossing land and tracking south-west towards Jabiru as a category one before weakening to a tropical low.The cyclone has not deviated significantly from its projected path, which has it crossing land and tracking south-west towards Jabiru as a category one before weakening to a tropical low.