NT: Cyclone Thelma closes in on NT coast

AAP General News (Australia)
12-08-1998
NT: Cyclone Thelma closes in on NT coast

DARWIN, Dec 8 AAP - Tropical Cyclone Thelma was moving closer to the Northern Territory
coast, Darwin Bureau of Meteorology warned early today.

At 2 am CST (0330 AEDT), the cyclone was centred about 200 km north of Darwin and 88 km
north of Snake Bay, and moving south-west at 6 kph.

Gales gusting up to 120 kph were already hitting the Tiwi Islands and Coburg Peninsula and
extremely destructive winds over 280 kph were expected to develop this morning as the eye of
the cyclone moved closer.

Gales were expected to extend south to Darwin and Daly Mouth today, possibly reaching the
Kimberley coast on Wednesday.

Darwin may even experience destructive winds later today from the edge of the cyclone,
which overnight had been upgraded from category two to category four -- the same grading as
Cyclone Tracy.

The bureau warned that heavy rain was likely to cause flooding over the north-west of the
territory.

Dangerously high tides could also cause widespread flooding on the coast between Goulburn
Island and Cape Fourcroy in the next 24 hours, excluding Darwin.

A Cyclone Warning (within 24 hours) is current for coastal and island communities between
Goulburn Island and Daly Mouth including Darwin.

A Cyclone watch (within 24 to 48 hours) extends west to Mitchell Plateau in Western
Australia.

AAP bws/jnb

KEYWORD: THELMA WARNING

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