Tropical Cyclone Megan has intensified into a Category 3 system with Australians living in northern parts of the country warned to prepare for strong winds, heavy rainfall and extremely high tides.
Cyclone Megan formed from a tropical low pressure system in the Gulf of Carpentaria between the Northern Territory and Queensland on Saturday afternoon and rapidly grew to a Category 2 overnight.
A small island off the NT’s east coast, Groote Eylandt, received 413mm of rain in just 24 hours to 10am. More than 680mm of rain fell over two days at Groote Eylandt Airport.
The Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) said Cyclone Megan had strengthened to a Category 3 system on Sunday afternoon and was moving south.
It is expected to make landfall between the Queensland border and the Nathan River sometime on Monday, bringing with it ‘significant winds, significant rain and abnormally high tides’.
A tropical low pressure system that developed into Tropical Cyclone Megan has intensified into a Category 3 system (pictured)
The cyclone is due to land on Monday
BOM senior meteorologist Miriam Webster warned on Sunday evening of winds reaching up to 120km/h as the cyclone intensifies.
As the cyclone approaches the coastline on Monday, wind speeds are expected to increase to over 200km/h.
“Winds of this strength are incredibly dangerous and incredibly damaging,” Ms Webster said.
“Especially in combination with the heavy to locally intense rainfall we also expect to see in the warning area as the system strengthens and approaches the coast.
‘It is still likely to bring further heavy falls even as it moves over the coast and begins to weaken.’
The cyclone is expected to wreak havoc in an area stretching hundreds of kilometers from Alyangula in the NT to Mornington Island in Queensland.
Coastlines across the southern coast of the bay are also expected to experience ‘abnormally’ high tides as Cyclone Megan approaches land.
“These abnormally high tides can reach as much as a meter above the highest tide we normally see throughout the year,” Ms Webster said.
“Significant tides like this can cause damage to coastal areas and extremely dangerous sea conditions.”
The cyclone uprooted trees and lashed Groote Eylandt with 413mm of rain in just 24 hours as it grew in strength on Saturday night (pictured)
The agency has issued precautionary flood warnings across most of the northern and eastern NT and parts of northern Queensland.
Tropical Cyclone Megan is expected to downgrade quickly after making landfall, but could still produce large amounts of rain as a tropical low pressure system.
Flood watches are in place for Carpentaria, northwestern parts of the Top End, Arnhem, Barkly and eastern Daly districts.
NT Police Inspector Sonia Kennon says people in the flood zones should consider evacuating now if they have a suitable vehicle as there is already damage on the Carpentaria Highway.
“If you leave the community, please make sure you go to the local police station,” she said.
‘Please provide and leave your name, occupants of the vehicle, registration of the vehicle, contact details and address of where you will be located,’ Supt Kennon said.
‘This is to make sure we can follow up with you.’
Residents are encouraged to prepare now before the cyclone makes landfall by securing loose items on their property, storing water and ensuring they have stocked up on food.
The cyclone is expected to wreak havoc in an area stretching hundreds of kilometers from Alyangula in the NT to Mornington Island in Queensland
‘When the tropical cyclone arrives, take shelter inside. Stay indoors until all is clear by the authorities,” Supt Kennon said.
The same area preparing for Cyclone Megan was devastated by Cyclone Lincoln just weeks ago.
It dumped heavy rain over a large area and triggered a series of flood watches and warnings in north-west Queensland and the NT.
After declining to a tropical low shortly after making landfall near Port McArthur, it moved west towards Western Australia and re-intensified into a tropical cyclone.
Pictured is rainfall forecast for Wednesday as Cyclone Megan wreaks havoc