Cat 5 Cyclone Monica moves towards Darwin

by Rob Kothe on 24 Apr 2006 Monday morning 7 am CST the category five severe tropical cyclone Monica was 80 kilometres north of Elcho Island, 180 kilometres northwest of Nhulunbuy and 520 kilometres east northeast of Darwin moving west at 13 kilometres per hour. The cyclone will move further west and closer to the coast later today.

The cyclone is then expected to weaken slightly as it passes over the Coburg Peninsula tonight, but will still be a severe tropical cyclone as it moves across the northwest Darwin and Daly River and Tiwi Islands area during Tuesday.

The very destructive core with gusts to 350 kilometres per hour is currently affecting the islands off the northeast Arnhem Land coast and is expected to cross the north coast between Maningrida and Croker Island later today, and approach the Darwin and Daly River and Tiwi Island area on Tuesday afternoon.

Cyclone Tracy which hit Darwin at Christmas in 1974 would have been recorded as a category five system, using today’s methodology. Wind gust in Darwin were recorded at 217km before wind gauges failed.