The tropical low off the coast of Darwin has been upgraded to a category one cyclone, expected to intensify in coming days.
Tropical cyclone Blanche has formed southwest of the Tiwi Islands and is expected to intensify to a category two as it crosses the north Kimberley coast late on Monday.
The Bureau of Meteorology has issued a warning for coastal and island communities from Mitchell Plateau to Point Stuart, including Darwin and Wadeye, and Cape Don to Cape Fourcroy.
Already, the system has brought wild winds and heavy rain at it moves south-west, but the authorities are warning the weather will deteoriorate further and could pose a risk to life and property.
Residents are being urged by Northern Territory police, fire and emergency services to take shelter as conditions worsen.
Damaging wind gusts of up to 110km/h may hit the Tiwi Islands and Darwin, which is also at risk of flash flooding.
“The islands began to experience squally weather overnight, and we can expect similar in Darwin this afternoon,” regional controller commander Brent Warren said in a statement. “There is a significant risk of flash flooding in the greater Darwin area today.”
Three special shelters have been opened across Darwin – at the supreme court building and at schools across the city – for people without suitable shelter.
“The shelters will be open for the vulnerable population only – focusing on the homeless and itinerant members of the community to give them some respite from the weather,” Warren 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.”
Darwin’s buses and ferry services have been shut down from midday Sunday. Darwin airport remains open.
The Darwin River dam reached capacity on Saturday night and the spillway was flowing.
The Western Australia Department of Fire and Emergency Services is urging residents from the NT border to Kuri Bay in the Kimberley to prepare for dangerous weather.
Significantly above-average tides between and large waves from Point Stuart in the NT and Kuri Bay in WA could cause minor flooding in low-lying areas.
