Tropical Cyclone Megan recently made landfall along the coast of Australia’s Northern Territory, hitting the remote town of Borroloola with strong winds, heavy rain, and storm surges. The cyclone, which had been affecting island communities, weakened as it approached the mainland, reducing the risk of severe damage and flooding.
Authorities had planned to evacuate around 700 residents from Borroloola, but the evacuation was called off as storm conditions prevented Australian Defence Force planes from landing. Instead, residents were advised to seek shelter in sturdy buildings like the police station or health facility.
Meanwhile, the McArthur River Mine evacuation was also canceled due to the worsening weather conditions caused by the cyclone. Over the weekend, Groote Eylandt experienced nearly 600 mm of rainfall, leading to tree damage and flash flooding on the island.
One exciting element is that the GEMCO manganese mine's wharf on Groote Eylandt was damaged by a ship carrying manganese and fuel. Fortunately, no leakage was reported, and efforts are underway to remove the ship from the wharf.
The cyclone is expected to move further inland to the southwest, weakening to a tropical low on Tuesday. The Australian Bureau of Meteorology has forecasted heavy rain and possible flash flooding in the Carpentaria region, with up to 200 mm of rainfall and wind gusts exceeding 90 kph (56 mph) likely.
Australia has experienced several cyclones in recent months, including Tropical Cyclone Jasper in December and Tropical Cyclone Kirrily in January, which caused widespread power outages and damage along the northern Queensland coast.
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