Tropical Cyclone Nathan has been in & around Australia for almost a fortnight and even then the threat is not over yet. As many as ten communities across the Kakadu National Park are being evacuated, ahead of Tropical Cyclone Nathan, which made its third landfall as a category one system overnight. It has been downgraded to a tropical low. Last week, cyclone Nathan hit northern Queensland and then eastwards into the Coral Sea. The cyclone then took a U-turn and started moving southwestwards towards northern Queensland.
Earlier in the day, Tropical Cyclone Nathan weakened further and travelled across the coast between Goulburn Island and Maningrida with wind speeds of about 120 Kmph at 6.30 in the morning. Buearu of Meteorology Australia predicts that the cyclone can possibly cause flooding thereby isolating a few remote communities of the region. Heavy rain and gusty winds were expected in Darwin on Tuesday morning. In Jabiru, which lies 250 km east of Darwin, buses are being used to help people move to the town’s community hall evacuation center.
Back in 1998, Tropical Cyclone Nathan emerged as a weak system, from a tropical low embedded in weak monsoon trough, and then weakened slowly. The name Cyclone Nathan is being used again this year.
Finally, Nathan is not expected to intensify again and will most probably decay rapidly as it moves over land. Rainfall of about 100 to 150 millimeters is still expected over the next two days. This could affect road access and traffic movement. Residents in and around Maningrida and Goulburn Island have been warned about the rising chances of a dangerous storm tide as the cyclone approaches inland areas.
