Top End communities are preparing for the arrival of Severe Tropical Cyclone Megan on Monday, which is expected to bring destructive wind gusts of up to 200 km/h, heavy rainfall, and potential flooding.
The cyclone intensified to Category 3 on Sunday, with the Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) predicting it will maintain this strength as it crosses the coast.
Megan was located early Monday morning 170 km south-southeast of Alyangula and 135 km northeast of Borroloola in the Northern Territory, moving slowly with wind gusts reaching 185 km/h.
The BoM anticipates the cyclone will make landfall between Nathan River and the NT/Queensland border by Monday evening, eventually weakening to a tropical low.
Evacuations are underway as Cyclone Megan threatens with potential storm surges and heavy rains.The warning area covers a broad region from Alyangula on Groote Eylandt to Mornington Island in Queensland, extending inland to Borroloola, McArthur River Mine, and Robinson River. Megan started affecting the southern Gulf of Carpentaria coast around 8 pm ACST on Sunday.
Australia’s Emergency Management Minister Murray Watt expressed concerns about the cyclone’s potential impact on Borroloola, a remote town with under 900 residents.
He noted the risk of severe damage and flooding if the cyclone escalates to Category 4. The federal government has authorized the Australian Defence Force to assist with evacuations, with up to 800 people expected to be moved to Darwin.
The cyclone, which formed east of Groote Eylandt on Saturday afternoon, is projected to bring very destructive winds up to 220 km/h and heavy rainfall, potentially totaling 300 to 400 mm in some areas. With the already-full catchments, there is a significant risk of damaging storm surges and flooding.
Currently, remote communities like those on Groote Eylandt are isolated due to excessive rainfall. Authorities are focused on ensuring safety and providing support to affected residents.
Cyclone Megan is the fifth named system of the Australian cyclone season, which has seen more weather and significant flooding.