Marine Weather Warnings - Tropical Cyclone Warning

Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology
Northern Territory
Tropical Cyclone Warning Centre

Media: The Standard Emergency Warning Signal should NOT be used with this
warning.

TOP PRIORITY FOR IMMEDIATE BROADCAST

TROPICAL CYCLONE WARNING

TROPICAL CYCLONE ADVICE NUMBER 10
Issued at 10:58 pm ACST [11:28 pm AEST] on Saturday 18 February 2017


Headline:
Tropical Cyclone Warning declared for Cape Shield to NT/QLD border, including
Groote Eylandt

Areas Affected:
Warning zone: Cape Shield to NT/Qld Border, including Groote Eylandt.

Watch zone: NT/Qld Border to Burketown, including Mornington Island

Cancelled zone: None.

Details of Tropical Low at 9:30 pm ACST [10:00 pm AEST]:
Intensity: Tropical Low, sustained winds near the centre of 45 kilometres per
hour with wind gusts to 85 kilometres per hour.
Location: over land within 75 kilometres of 15.6 degrees South 136.5 degrees
East, estimated to be 55 kilometres north northeast of Borroloola and 190
kilometres south of Alyangula.
Movement: northeast at 8 kilometres per hour.

The tropical low is located on the coast near Centre Island. It is expected to
continue to move northwards on Sunday over the southwest Gulf of Carpentaria
and may develop into a tropical cyclone during Sunday afternoon or evening. It
is possible that the system may reach category 2 intensity during Monday. The
system is then expected to turn south, towards the southern Gulf of Carpentaria
coast and is forecast to cross the coast near the NT/QLD border during Tuesday
or early Wednesday.

Hazards:
GALES with gusts to 110 kilometres per hour are expected to develop on Groote
Eylandt during Sunday afternoon or evening.

GALES may develop about coastal and island communities between Cape Shield and
Port McArthur (NT) later on Sunday if the low takes a more westerly path over
the southwest Gulf of Carpentaria. GALE S may also develop between Port
McArthur and the NT/Qld border later on Sunday or during Monday if the low
develops closer to the coast. GALES may then extend along the Queensland coast
to Burktown, including Mornington Island later on Monday or during Tuesday.

Severe Weather Warnings for heavy rainfall and damaging wind gusts are current
for parts of the Arnhem and Carpentaria Districts in the NT and for heavy
rainfall in the Gulf Country District, west of Normanton in Queensland.

Abnormally high tides are expected about the southern Gulf of Carpentaria coast
during the next few days, but at this stage the sea level is not forecast to
exceed the highest tide of the year. Large waves are likely along low lying
coastal areas.

Recommended Action:
NTES advises residents from Cape Shield to the NT/Qld border, including Groote
Eylandt:
- Your emergency kit should now be complete and ready;
- Finalise home shelter preparations, or know now where you will shelter;
- Do not move to shelter until advised by local authorities.

People between Burketown and the Qld/NT border should take precautions and
listen to the next advice at around 2:30am AEST.
- Information is available from your local government
- For cyclone preparedness and safety advice, visit Queensland's Disaster
Management Services website (www.disaster.qld.gov.au)
- For emergency assistance call the State Emergency Service (SES) on 132 500
(for assistance with storm damage, rising flood water, fallen trees on
buildings or roof damage).

Further advice on cyclone emergencies is available at www.securent.nt.gov.au
Please ensure that friends, family and neighbours have heard and understood
this message, particularly new arrivals to the area.

Next Advice:

The next advice will be issued by 2:00 am ACST Sunday 19 February [2:30 am AEST
Sunday 19 February].


This advice is available on telephone NT-1300 659 211 and QLD-1300 659 212

A map showing the track of the cyclone is available at:
http://www.bom.gov.au/cyclone