Tropical Cyclone Heads For Darwin Australia

Issued at 7:42 pm CST Saturday 24 December 2011. Refer to Tropical Cyclone Advice Number 18.

The low is expected to develop into a tropical cyclone tonight. It should remain slow moving north of the coast over the next 12 to 24 hours before moving south. It is likely to move into the Van Diemen Gulf early Monday with a possible landfall east of Darwin later on Monday.

GALES with gusts to 110 kilometres per hour are expected to develop between Cape Fourcroy and Milingimbi, including the Tiwi Islands, Cape Don and Croker Island, tonight.

DESTRUCTIVE WINDS with gusts to 130 kilometres per hour may develop if the cyclone continues to intensify, affecting parts of the coast between Snake Bay and Croker Island, late on Sunday.

Darwin may experience GALES on Sunday night on the edge of the tropical cyclone as it passes to the east. GALES may also extend inland to Jabiru on Monday.

GALES may extend further east to Nhulunbuy on Monday if the tropical cyclone takes a more easterly path.

HEAVY RAIN is is expected to cause localised flooding and significant stream rises over the northern Darwin-Daly, Arnhem and northern Roper-McArthur Districts.

The Territory Controller advises residents from Snake Bay