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Sunday April 23, 08:22 PM
Cyclone Monica heads towards Darwin
Nhulunbuy residents are being warned to stay indoors ahead of destructive winds generated by category five Cyclone Monica which is expected to cross the coast.
Cyclone Monica is about 97 km north north-east of Nhulunbuy and is due to pass within 80 kilometres of the township in the next few hours, police said.
Monica is moving westwards at 12kph, said a spokesman for the Bureau of Meteorology.
Elcho Island will be the next community to be affected by the cyclone when it passes within 80km of the island about 9pm (CST) Sunday, the spokesman said.
Monica is expected to cross the Northern Territory coastline near Milingimbi in the next 24 hours before heading towards Darwin.
The cyclone is forecast to weaken to category three by the time it reaches the city on Tuesday afternoon, the spokesman said.
Nhulunbuy resident Michael Kestel, who sheltered in his home along with his wife and two young children, said the cyclone had been a bit of a non-event.
"The worst has gone," Mr Kestel said about 3pm (CST).
"It has really been a bit of an anti-climax after all the build-up in the last few days.
"But it basically peeled off in the last 24 hours and headed north. The main event is happening about 100 km north of us."
However, Mr Kestel said rain was bucketing down and wind gusts of about 160 km/hr had hit the coastline.
"It is not much different to other storms we have had up here."
Police are warning Nhulunbuy residents to stay indoors because strong winds are expected
has missed Darwin, dissipating into a category one cyclone at 1030  (0030 ). The cyclone was originally expected to hit  as a , but lost power as it traveled across the Northern Territory, moving further south than anticipated. While this may bring relief to many residents fearing a return of the infamous , authorities have warned that Monica still packs a punch and will bring 90 kph winds to the region. Northern Territory police commander, Bert Hofer, has advised residents to "stay where they are," for the time being. Australian airline Qantas is resuming its flights to Darwin as of 1945 AEST today. All ANZAC Day dawn services were cancelled in the Northern Territory's capital.