Cyclone Trevor barrelling inland after crossing NT coast as Category 4 storm
Severe Tropical Cyclone Trevor is barrelling inland in the Northern Territory, after making landfall at 10am as a Category 4 storm.
The large system crossed the coast 100km south-east of Port McArthur with winds up to 140km/h recorded on Centre Island in the Pellew Islands.
The effects were also felt 200km away on Mornington Island where trees came down and weather gauges recorded a 1.5m storm surge.
Cyclone Trevor crossed the NT coast as a Category 4 storm 9news
Video filmed at the McArthur River Mine site as the cyclone passed showed heavy rain and strong winds.
Emergency services said for the most part, today the Gulf of Carpentaria was lucky.
On the same day 35 years ago, Cyclone Kathy hit Borroloola as a Category 5 and many locals still remember its impact.
The system is continuing to barrel inland, bringing strong winds and plenty of rain over the coming days 9news
“Kathy was a much more dangerous path,” said Bureau of Meteorology NT Manager Todd Smith.
“Because the centre of the system crossed very close to the centre of the township, there was a significant storm surge in town, very destructive winds on all of the buildings there.
“We’re quite fortunate in this case that the system has crossed the coast some 100km to the east otherwise it could have been a very similar situation.”
Emergency services evacuated thousands of residents, making it the largest evacuation effort since Cyclone Tracey hit Darwin in 1974 9news
The clean up has begun as SES crews gain access to effected areas 9news
The clean up is still expected to be massive and until authorities can get into effected zones to assess the damage, evacuees must remain in Darwin and Katherine.
Of nearly 2100 people who evacuated East Arnhem Land, only 900 slept at evacuation centres overnight, while the rest sought accommodation or stayed with family and friends.
Chief Minister Michael Gunner visited evacuees and emergency volunteers in Darwin as Cyclone Trevor made landfall this morning and said people were calm and peaceful.
“We hope things are as calm on the coastline as they are here in the evacuation centre,” he said.
Authorities said the system will remain at tropical cyclone strength until Sunday and inland communities are now in its path.
“The warning area extends well inland including Creswell Downs and Brunette Downs and right into the Barkly,” said Mr Smith.
In the north of the Gulf, warnings have been lifted and today residents in Gove were breathing a sigh of relief.
Others took full advantage of the windier weather and went surfing off the coast of Yirrkala.
Darwin also began seeing some of the effects of Cyclone Trevor in the afternoon with squally thunderstorms over the city.
The community is now surveying the damage 9news
It was the largest evacuation effort in the NT since Cyclone Tracy hit Darwin in 1974.
Territory authorities are now concerned about a dozen people who are believed to have remained in Trevor's path, ignoring advice to leave.
They have been urged to have supplies to last at least three days, take shelter and stay away from waterways.
The cyclone, moving southwest at 16km/h, is expected to slowly weaken to a category two system by Saturday evening.
The Northern Territory is bracing for severe Cyclone Trevor to make landfall this morning as a Category 4 storm with wind gusts of up to 275km/h. 9news
Share a tip-off, video or photo with us
