Source: Bureau of Meteorology

Issued at 4:29 pm ACST [4:59 pm AEST] on Saturday 16 March 2024

Headline:
Tropical Cyclone Megan has formed in the Gulf of Carpentaria.

Areas Affected:
Warning Zone
Alyangula (Groote Eylandt) in NT to Mornington Island in Qld, including Borroloola but not including Ngukurr or Mornington Island.

Watch Zone
Mornington Island in Qld as well as adjacent parts of the Carpentaria District inland to Robinson River in NT.

Cancelled Zone
None.

Details of Tropical Cyclone Megan at 3:30 pm ACST [4:00 pm AEST]:
Intensity: Category 1, sustained winds near the centre of 85 kilometres per hour with wind gusts to 120 kilometres per hour.

Location: within 30 kilometres of 14.2 degrees South 137.8 degrees East, estimated to be 150 kilometres east southeast of Alyangula and 260 kilometres northeast of Borroloola.

Movement: slow moving.

Tropical Cyclone Megan has formed to the east of Groote Eylandt and is forecast to continue to intensify as it moves south slowly over the weekend towards the southern Gulf of Carpentaria coast. Megan is forecast to reach category 2 tonight and further intensify to Category 3 Sunday night before landfall on Monday.

Once over land, Megan should weaken quickly as it tracks west through the Northern Territory.

Hazards:
Gales with DAMAGING WIND GUSTS of 110 km/h are possible over Groote Eylandt through today, and may continue into Sunday.

Gales with DAMAGING WIND GUSTS of 100 km/h may develop between Numbulwar in the Northern Territory and Mornington Island in Queensland, including Borroloola, overnight tonight or on Sunday. Gales may extend inland to Robinson River overnight Sunday into Monday if the system moves more quickly to the south.

Gales with DAMAGING WIND GUSTS of 100 km/h are possible on Mornington Island itself from early Monday, if the system tracks further east than forecast.

DESTRUCTIVE wind gusts in excess of 125 km/h are possible about the southwestern Gulf of Carpentaria coast, near the system centre, from late Sunday.

The VERY DESTRUCTIVE CORE of Tropical Cyclone Megan with wind gusts up to 185 km/h is expected to cross the coast between Nathan River in the Northern Territory and the Queensland/Northern Territory border from early Monday.

INTENSE RAINFALL is possible about Groote Eylandt and coastal parts of the Carpentaria District during the weekend.

HEAVY RAINFALL is occurring over eastern parts of the Top End and will continue over the weekend, with the heaviest falls in coastal and island locations during today before reaching further inland into the Carpentaria forecast districts on Sunday. A separate severe weather warning is current for heavy rainfall for parts of the Arnhem district for monsoon weather conditions.

A STORM TIDE with ABNORMALLY HIGH TIDES is likely along the southern Gulf of Carpentaria coast this weekend and into Monday. Large waves may produce MINOR FLOODING along the foreshore.

Recommended Action:
The Northern Territory Emergency Service advise:

For the communities in the area of the Cyclone Warning:

- Enact your household plan

- Prepare your property now

- Stay informed

- Take extra care on the roads

For the communities in the area of the Cyclone Watch:

- Prepare now

- Stay informed

- Monitor conditions

QFES advises:

People between the Queensland/ Northern Territory border and Mornington Island, not including Mornington Island, should take precautions and listen to the next advice.

People between on Mornington Island should consider what action they will need to take if the cyclone threat increases.

- 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 Queensland State Emergency Service (SES) on 132 500 (for assistance with storm damage, rising flood water, fallen trees on buildings or roof damage).

Current Tropical Cyclones