Tropical Cyclone Warning Centre

IDD20150 Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology Northern Territory Tropical Cyclone Warning Centre Media: Transmitters serving the area between Cape Shield and Elcho Island including Nhulunbuy are requested to USE the Standard Emergency Warning Signal before broadcasting the following warning. TOP PRIORITY FOR IMMEDIATE BROADCAST TROPICAL CYCLONE WARNING TROPICAL CYCLONE ADVICE NUMBER 92 Issued at 11:05 am CST on Sunday 22 March 2015 Headline: The destructive core of Tropical Cyclone Nathan has made landfall and is currently southwest of Nhulunbuy. Areas Affected: Warning Zone Goulburn Island to Alyangula including Maningrida, Milingimbi, Elcho Island, Gapuwiyak and Nhulunbuy Watch Zone Goulburn Island to Cape Don, including Croker Island and Goulburn Island Cancelled Zone Groote Eylandt south of Alyangula. Details of Tropical Cyclone Nathan at 10:30 am CST: Intensity: Category 2, sustained winds near the centre of 100 kilometres per hour with wind gusts to 140 kilometres per hour. Location: within 20 kilometres of 12.4 degrees South 136.6 degrees East, estimated to be 30 kilometres southwest of Nhulunbuy and 120 kilometres east southeast of Galiwinku. Movement: northwest at 15 kilometres per hour. The centre of Tropical Cyclone Nathan is moving over northeast Arnhem Land. Cyclone Nathan will continue moving west northwest with the DESTRUCTIVE CORE passing southwest of Nhulunbuy. Cyclone Nathan will continue to weaken as it moves westward parallel to the Top End north coast during Monday. Hazards: GALES, with gusts up to 120 kilometres per hour, are occuring over northeast Arnhem Land. Gales are expected to extend to Elcho Island, inlcuding Gapuwiyak over the next few hours. Gales are expected to extend further west to Maningrida during this afternoon or evening and may extend west to Cape Don overnight on Sunday or Monday morning if the system takes a more westerly track. DESTRUCTIVE winds with gusts up to 155 kilometres per hour, extending to approximately 40 kilometres from the centre of the cyclone, are currently being experienced over northeast Arnhem Land. Destructive winds will extend west to Gapuwiyak early this afternoon and possibly to Elcho Island depending on how quickly the cyclone weakens. HEAVY RAINFALL, which may lead to flash flooding, across coastal parts of northern Arnhem Land as the cyclone moves westwards. Coastal residents between Groote Eylandt and Nhulunbuy are specifically warned of a DANGEROUS STORM TIDE as the cyclone centre crosses the coast. Tides are likely to rise significantly above the normal high tide, with DAMAGING WAVES and DANGEROUS FLOODING. Recommended Action: The Territory Controller advises residents from Groote Eylandt to Nhulunbuy to TAKE SHELTER NOW. DO NOT drive or move about outside, you will be advised by the Territory Controller when it is safe to do so. REPEATING: CONDITIONS from Groote Eylandt to Nhulunbuy ARE NOW AT A DANGEROUS LEVEL, TAKE SHELTER NOW. A CYCLONE IS APPROACHING AND PUBLIC SHELTERS IN COMMUNITIES from Groote Eylandt to Elcho Island including Nhulunbuy and Gapuwiyak ARE NOW OPEN. Now is the time to make final preparations to your home shelter area. If you DO NOT have accommodation constructed to the Building Code or are unsure of your present accommodation you should PROCEED IMMEDIATELY to shelter with family, friends, or one of the local emergency shelters. Take your emergency kit with you. Private Sector businesses and organisations still open at this time are strongly advised to consider securing and closing their premises. Employers are reminded of their Duty of Care to ensure the safety of any employees still at work. A CYCLONE IS APPROACHING AND PUBLIC SHELTERS IN COMMUNITIES from Nhulunbuy to Elcho Island ARE NOW OPEN. MAKE YOUR DECISION QUICKLY AS WINDS ARE SHORTLY EXPECTED TO REACH A DANGEROUS LEVEL. The Territory Controller advises residents from Milingimbi to Goulburn Island, including Maningrida and Milingimbi, that now is the time to make final preparations to your home shelter or identify which public emergency shelter or strong building to use. You should now have your emergency kit complete and ready. DO NOT PROCEED TO PUBLIC EMERGENCY SHELTERS UNTIL ADVISED TO DO SO. The Territory Controller advises communities under Watch that now is the time to finalise your emergency kit, clear your yards and balconies, and commence home shelter preparations. If you DO NOT have accommodation constructed to the Building Code or are unsure of your present accommodation, you should determine NOW where you will shelter. This may include arranging to shelter with family, friends or in public emergency shelters, or strong buildings, where available in your community. This advice is issued to allow you sufficient time in which to take the necessary precautions before winds reach a dangerous level. Please ensure that friends, family and neighbours have heard and understood this message, particularly new arrivals to the area. Further advice on cyclone emergencies is available at www.securent.nt.gov.au Next Advice: The next advice will be issued by 12:00 pm CST Sunday 22 March. This advice is available on telephone NT- 1300 659 211 A map showing the track of the cyclone is available at: http://www.bom.gov.au/cyclone