Communities in lockdown as Cyclone Trevor sweeps over Far North Queensland
Tropical cyclone Trevor has caused chaos across Far North Queensland as it barrels towards the Northern Territory.
Communities have been in lockdown and roads and schools closed since the category three tropical storm made its approach just south of Lockhart River.
Hundreds of people there had braced for 220km/h winds and emergency services crews were on the ground at towns in the storm’s path.
More than three hours after the storm reached the coast about 5pm on Tuesday, it still hadn’t fully crossed the coast, a Bureau of Meteorology spokesman told AAP.
The cyclone is expected to cause high tides along the coast north of Port Douglas and dump hundreds of millimetres of rain.
Warnings are in place for Orford Ness to Cape Flattery, extending across the Cape York Peninsula to Pormpuraaw and Mapoon, including Weipa and Coen.
Additional emergency crews, including specialist swift water rescue firefighters, have already been deployed to the region.
The storm is expected to weaken to a category one system as it crosses the Cape York Peninsula before re-intensifying on its way towards the Northern Territory.
Damaging to very destructive winds in the core of tropical #cycloneTrevor. Some images of damage from #LockhartRiver. For cyclone preparedness and safety advice: https://t.co/3AD7YyJhdg. For emergency assistance call Qld SES on 132 500 or 000. For info: https://t.co/Tw65a1FNqM pic.twitter.com/LF8fSP4Ii4
— Bureau of Meteorology, Queensland (@BOM_Qld) March 19, 2019
Lockhart River Mayor Wayne Butcher told AAP just as the storm bore down on the town on Tuesday, “it’s howling out there”.
“There is a lot of trees going down around the place, there’s been a few trees landing on buildings already and we’ve got another few hours of strong winds,” he said.
“Hopefully everyone stays indoors and we don’t get any distress calls.”
Just before 8.30pm, Mr Butcher said the storm was “still roaring, it hasn’t stopped”.
“Especially now that it’s dark and we can’t see anything, it’s a bit nerve wracking, all we can hear is the wind whistling,” he told AAP.
Tropical cyclone Trevor is moving westward towards Aurukun, then into the Gulf this evening. #CycloneTrevor. https://t.co/rVLE6i5J4y pic.twitter.com/gkgUw8zyju
— Bureau of Meteorology, Queensland (@BOM_Qld) March 19, 2019
Police Far North District Chief Superintendent Brian Huxley urged residents to take care in water after the storm passes – alluding to crocodiles and other “wildlife” which may be lurking beneath the surface.
“In particular, things that people might not ordinarily think of such as wildlife which gets displaced, we have all sorts of wildlife up here that we need to be weary of,” Chief Supt Huxley said.
He said that on Wednesday morning people would probably start looking to move around and it was very important they took care.
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