Cyclone Blanche brings record rains
(Bureau of Meteorology)
Record-breaking rains and strong winds have lashed the Top End as Cyclone Blanche moves away from the Tiwi Islands and authorities say the greater Darwin area will be affected as it travels southwest.
The Darwin River Dam was on Sunday evening topping the spillway and residents need to closely watch water level rises and take extra precautions when travelling, NT emergency services regional controller Brent Warren said.
Damaging winds gusting up to 95 km/h were recorded along Bathurst Island coasts while winds blowing at up to 80 km/h ripped through Darwin.
A record 384mm of rain fell overnight at Bathurst Island's Point Fawcett.
"This smashes Point Fawcett's previous 24 hour rainfall record of 265.2mm recorded during Cyclone Carlos in 2011," a weather bureau spokesman said.
About 60mm of rain fell across Darwin and severe thunderstorms could still hammer the area overnight Sunday.
The city's buses and ferry services were shut down around midday on Sunday but will be resume on Monday.
Northern Territory Police, Fire and Emergency Services regional controller Commander Brent Warren said schools would be open.
"At this stage, it is 'business as usual'," he said on Sunday evening.
Warnings for or Cape Don to Cape Fourcroy and Point Stuart to Cape Hotham have been cancelled.
The category one system formed on Sunday morning south of the Tiwi Islands and is tracking southwest.
It is expected to intensify to a category two by the time it crosses the Kimberley coast later on Monday and was on Sunday evening estimated to be 130km west of Darwin, moving at 12 km/h.
The WA 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.
Emergency shelters have opened at Darwin's Supreme Court, Nightcliff Middle School and Palmerston Senior College for homeless people seeking respite.
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