Tropical Cyclone Megan reaches Category 3 intensity, bringing severe winds of up to 200km/hour, heavy rain and abnormally high tides

Tropical Cyclone Megan has become a Category 3 system, with Australians living in northern parts of the country warned of high winds, heavy rain and extremely high tides.

Cyclone Megan formed from a tropical low-pressure system in the Gulf of Carpentaria, between the Northern Territory and Queensland, on Saturday afternoon and quickly grew to a Category 2 overnight.

A small island off the NT east coast, Groote Eylandt, received 413mm of rain in just 24 hours until 9am on Sunday – the second wettest day on record for the island. More than 680 mm of rain fell at Groote Eylandt Airport in two days.

The Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) said Cyclone Megan had strengthened into a Category 3 system on Sunday afternoon and was moving south.

It is expected to make landfall between the Queensland border and the Nathan River sometime Monday, bringing “significant winds, significant rainfall and abnormally high tides”.

Senior meteorologist for BOM, Miriam Webster, warned of winds of up to 120 km/h on Sunday evening as the cyclone intensifies.

As the cyclone approaches the coastline on Monday, wind speeds are expected to increase to over 200 km/h.

“Winds of this strength are incredibly dangerous and incredibly damaging,” Ms Webster said.

‘Especially in combination with the heavy to locally heavy rainfall that we also expect in the warning area as the system strengthens and approaches the coast.

“It will likely bring more heavy falls even as it moves along the coast and begins to weaken.”

The cyclone is expected to wreak havoc in an area stretching hundreds of kilometers from Alyangula in the NT to Mornington Island in Queensland.

Coastlines along the southern Gulf Coast are also expected to experience “abnormally” high tides as Cyclone Megan approaches land.

“Those abnormally high tides can reach up to a meter above the highest tides we normally see all year round,” Ms Webster said.

‘Significant tides like this can cause damage to coastal areas and extremely dangerous sea conditions.’

The Bureau has issued preventive flood warnings across most of the northern and eastern NT and parts of northern Queensland.

Tropical Cyclone Megan is expected to weaken quickly after moving over land, but as a tropical low-pressure system could still produce large amounts of rain.

Flood watches have been put in place for the districts of Carpentaria, the north-west parts of Top End, Arnhem, Barkly and eastern Daly.

NT Police Inspector Sonia Kennon says people in flood watch zones should consider evacuating now if they have a suitable vehicle, as there is already damage to the Carpentaria Highway.

“If you leave the community, make sure you go to the local police station,” she said.

“Please include your name, the persons in the vehicle, the vehicle registration plate, contact details and the address you will be at,” Supt Kennon said.

“This is to ensure we can follow up with you.”

Residents are urged to prepare now before the cyclone makes landfall by securing loose items on their property, stockpiling water and ensuring they have stocked up on food.

‘If the tropical cyclone arrives, you must take shelter indoors. Please remain indoors until the all clear is cleared by authorities,” Supt Kennon said.

The same area that prepared for Cyclone Megan was devastated by Cyclone Lincoln a few weeks ago.

It dumped heavy rain over a wide area, triggering a series of flood warnings and warnings across north-west Queensland and NT.

After dropping to a tropical low shortly after making landfall at Port McArthur, it moved west towards Western Australia and re-strengthened into a tropical cyclone.