Australia’s Norfolk Island braces for worst storm in 30 years as Cyclone Gabrielle approaches
Key Points
- Tropical Cyclone Gabrielle is forecast to bring gale-force winds and high waves to parts of Norfolk Island.
- The category two cyclone will be its most intense throughout Saturday night and into Sunday afternoon.
- The cyclone will head for Auckland next, coming a fortnight after its worst flood disaster on record.
The centre of the cyclone is predicted to pass over or near the island on Saturday evening, bringing destructive winds and very heavy surf.
“Gale-force winds and high waves are likely occurring around parts of the island, and conditions may worsen overnight as the centre of the cyclone moves past,” the bureau said.
Strong wind gusts, heavy rainfall
Senior meteorologist Dean Narramore warned of bursts of heavy rainfall and very large seas and swell.
“But on the backside, we expect another burst of strong to destructive winds as well as some bursts of heavy rainfall and a continuing damaging surf and swell.”
Cyclone to weaken on Sunday afternoon
A hazardous surf warning was in place for the Frazer Island coast, and waters off Sunshine Coast and the Gold Coast until midnight on Sunday.
The cyclone was reclassified as a category two storm – down from a category three – as it neared Norfolk Island. Source: AAP / Bureau of Meteorology
The bureau was urging people to consider staying out of the water and avoid walking near surf-exposed areas, and for boaters to consider delaying their voyage if they planned to cross shallow water and ocean bars.
“We are well prepared and we have just got to see this through, and then we will look at what resources are going to be needed in a recovery phase from tomorrow,” he told ABC TV.
Military and emergency teams on standby
“We are expecting power outages, trees coming down, the potential for houses to lose roofs,” he said.
Low to severe intensity heatwave conditions were expected in central and southeast Queensland over the weekend and into early next week.
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