Cyclone Blanche: Darwin spared worst of cyclone as it moves towards WA
Updated
Darwin is likely to experience further localised heavy rain but appears to have escaped the worst of Tropical Cyclone Blanche, which is moving away from the city.
The Tiwi Islands, which had the tropical low pass over before it became a cyclone, recorded a record 384 millimetres of rain in less than 24 hours at Bathurst Island and damaging wind gusts to about 95 kilometres per hour.
But Police, Fire and Emergency Services (PFES) said they were unaware of any damage in the Darwin region as a result of Cyclone Blanche, which brought 50-60mm of rain in 24 hours and wind gusts of 60-80kph.
They expected "business as usual" in the NT on Monday, with schools and government agencies open, including public transport.
This afternoon the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) said the category one Cyclone Blanche, located about 105 kilometres west-north-west of Darwin in the Timor Sea, was strengthening as it moved south-west, away from the city.
"Tropical Cyclone Blanche is south of the Tiwi Islands and is expected to continue tracking to the south-west, parallel to the coast, and intensify further, crossing the north Kimberley coast later on Monday as a category 2 system," the bureau said.
In advice issued shortly before 2:00pm the cyclone warning zone still included Darwin and Wadeye, and extended from the Mitchell Plateau to Cape Hotham.
BOM said people located in the areas from Cape Hotham to Daly River Mouth, including Darwin, should consider their need to travel.
'Avoid flooded crossings'
"Take shelter as conditions deteriorate," the bureau said.
"Avoid driving into flooded crossings."
The advice said heavy rain and squalls were likely to continue over the Tiwi Islands and western Top End, extending to the Kimberley region tonight or Monday.
In a statement the bureau later said the forecast for the Darwin area was for continuing rainfall with localised heavy falls and a chance of thunderstorms, possible severe.
Public shelters opened
Three special public cyclone shelters opened this afternoon as the cyclone brushed past Darwin.
"The shelters will be open for the vulnerable population only — focussing on the homeless and itinerant members of the community to give them some respite from the weather,"
Commander Brent Warren from NT Police said.
"Blanche is a category one storm — most homes in Darwin are built to withstand high winds and there is no need to for the general population to move to shelters.
"Local authorities are working together to reach out to as many people living on the streets as possible to provide them some shelter during the height of this storm."
A shelter in Nightcliff later closed, but others remained open on Sunday afternoon at the Darwin Supreme Court and Palmerston Senior College.
Storm strengthening as it moves towards WA
Although Darwin looks to have escaped the worst of Cyclone Blanche, the system was continuing to move towards WA.
A statement from BOM said people located from Wadeye to the NT/WA border should have their emergency kids complete.
"Finalise home shelter preparations, or know now where you will shelter," it said.
"Do not move to shelter until advised by local authorities."
Category two cyclones can cause minor house damage and significant damage to signs, trees and caravans.
Topics: cyclone, darwin-0800, nt
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