Tropical Cyclone Ita makes landfall in Australia, it is the strongest storm to hit since Cyclone Yasi, which struck in 2011.
The Category 3 cyclone hit the town of Cooktown at around 9 p.m. Australian time, or 7 a.m. in the Eastern United States, with winds of up to 115 miles per hour, according to media reports on Friday. Though the cyclone was downgraded to a category three from earlier reports that it would reach the maximum strength of five, destructive winds of up to 150 kilometres per hour are lashing the region. There are reports that trees are down and homes have been damaged. The system is continuing to weaken as it moves south-southwest inland from Cooktown.
Coastal residents in Northern Australia, including the 2,300-person Cooktown and nearby Aboriginal communities, were specifically warned of a “dangerous storm tide” overnight and on Saturday morning.
“The sea is likely to rise steadily up to a level which will be significantly above the normal tide, with damaging waves, strong currents and flooding of low-lying areas extending some way inland,” The Australia Bureau of Meteorology said. “People living in areas likely to be affected by this flooding should take measures to protect their property as much as possible and be prepared to follow instructions regarding evacuation of the area if advised to do so by the authorities.”
Cyclone Ita brought torrential rain to the Solomon Islands late last week, causing flash floods that left at least 21 people dead.
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