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Communities in northern regions, already grappling with excessive rainfall, are now facing the renewed fury of Tropical Cyclone Narelle. As they prepare for potential disruptions, including road closures and supply shortages, the situation grows increasingly tense.
Coastal areas of the eastern Top End are already feeling the effects of Narelle. The cyclone made landfall early Sunday morning near Cape Shield, positioned northwest of Groote Eylandt. As it progresses, its path is expected to sweep across the Top End throughout Sunday and Monday, transforming into a tropical low.
Residents in these areas have been warned to brace for heavy rainfall and potentially destructive winds. Late on Saturday, the cyclone intensified to a category three storm, unleashing winds of 130 km/h and gusts reaching 185 km/h, accompanied by severe rainfall over much of the region.
The Bureau of Meteorology has cautioned towns along the Gulf of Carpentaria and those further inland in the Northern Territory. These areas could experience wind gusts up to 165 km/h and rainfall exceeding 200 millimeters on Sunday, posing a significant threat to safety and infrastructure.
Towns on the Gulf of Carpentaria and further inland in the Northern Territory have been told by the Bureau of Meteorology to expect wind gusts up to 165 kilometres an hour and rainfall above 200 millimetres on Sunday.
The community was well-prepared for the storm and the government response so far had been effective, the director of the Savannah Way Motel in the Gulf town of Borroloola said.
“There has been a fair bit of water around from previous rain,” Anastasi Kambourakis told AAP.
“Most of the people who live in Borroloola are used to it this time of year.”
Narelle is the first cyclone to hit the area in more than a year and lessons have been learned from previous experiences.
“We did lose freight for a little bit,” Kambourakis said.
“The government always prioritises getting it through to the community.”
Gulf communities are also warned to expect abnormally high sea levels that could cause sea water flooding of low-lying areas.
Residents sheltering at home should move to the smallest, strongest, most protective room in their house, such as a bathroom or a toilet.
Flood warnings are in place across much of the Top End, particularly in Katherine and Daly.
Patients were evacuated from Katherine Hospital in anticipation of Narelle worsening the delicate flood situation in the town.
The storm is expected to move slowly south and west on Sunday, with warnings in place for large swathes of Western Australia as well.
Residents across the Kimberley have been told to prepare now for the likelihood of heavy rain on Monday as the storm slowly weakens.
In Queensland, the clean-up from the cyclone has begun with energy crews deployed to return to power more than a 1000 homes.
Police have delivered fuel to remote communities on Cape York to help locals recover from the storm, which brought down trees and ripped off roofs as it passed.
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