Posted on 04/25/2006 3:37:18 AM PDT by Aussie Dasher
CYCLONE Monica has weakened to a tropical low over the Northern Territory, but is forecast to move back to sea and intensify again before menacing Western Australia.
Monica was packing winds of up to 350kph near its core when it last night touched down at Maningrida, in the Territory's far north.
However, the category five cyclone significantly weakened once it made landfall and travelled further south and inland than predicted, after fears it would be one of the severest storms to hit Australia.
While the clean-up in Maningrida has started, Darwin emerged relatively unscathed today after preparing for the worst.
Duty forecaster Jenny Farlow said the city received rain and winds of up to 60kph as the cyclone weakened from a category one to a tropical low about 1pm (CST).
"Squally winds are currently being experienced over the northwestern Darwin-Daly district and the southern Tiwi Islands," Ms Farlow said.
"There's no damage that I'm aware of in Darwin ... for Darwin you could say that (it was a non-event) but not for other parts such as Maningrida, Jabiru and Milingimbi.
"Other parts of the Top End have experienced significantly damaging wind gusts."
A police spokeswoman warned high and low voltage powerlines were down in Maningrida, urging residents to take caution.
Heavy rain was also expected to cause significant stream rises and flooding of low-lying areas across the Top End and extend to the northern Kimberley in Western Australia tomorrow or Thursday.
Ms Farlow said the tropical low, located about 13km northeast of Darwin, would track west and reach the Timor Sea before intensifying and possibly hitting WA.
"Once they go over the warmer waters this fuels them – they reintensify," Ms Farlow said.
"The steering is in that southwest direction to Western Australia – that top bit there will be affected."
She said Monica had the potential to intensify beyond a category two cyclone before potentially striking the WA coast.
"A cyclone watch is current between the Daly Mouth River right through to the Kimberley," Ms Farlow said.
Destructive winds with gusts of up to 150kph could develop between Kalumburu and the NT/WA border early on Thursday, the bureau said.
Monica caused quite a stir here in the States several years ago. You never know which way the wind will blow.
I gather this Monica is capable of causing as much damage - maybe more.
I'm betting we won't see BJ Clintoon Down here for a while...
Sounds like this Monica is a big blow down under.
"The Big Lewinsky"
Well, I guess in a way, you can say our Monica had something to do with a big blow down under also.
This one is too easy. I'll pass.
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