Cyclone Nora

Preparations

Tropical cyclones in the Gulf of Carpentaria can be relatively unpredictable in their motion, and are often difficult to forecast. As a result, tropical cyclone watches and warnings were issued for the entire Gulf coast of Queensland and the northeastern Top End when Nora intensified into a tropical cyclone. Early forecasts also predicted that Nora would stay offshore for much longer while tracking into the southeastern Gulf of Carpentaria. Forecasts indicated that the system could have strengthened into a powerful Category 4 severe tropical cyclone if this scenario were to have eventuated. Residents were warned that Nora had the potential to cause major impacts due to its predicted intensity, size and direction of motion. The BOM indicated that storm surge and large waves posed a potential threat to coastal communities in the path of the system, and that inundation of low-lying areas on the shoreline was possible. Residents were also warned that widespread heavy rainfall was anticipated, with isolated daily falls of up to 300 mm (12 in) possible in some areas.

Due to the potential for communities to become isolated by flooding, emergency electricity generators were installed near critical infrastructure and buildings such as schools, hospitals, accommodation facilities and some council buildings. Additional Queensland Police Service (QPS) officers and other emergency services personnel were also deployed to communities in Far North Queensland in order to assist with cyclone preparations and maintain safety during the cyclone. The Queensland Fire and Emergency Services (QFES) assembled several rapid response and swift water rescue teams in preparation for the cyclone. These teams were able to respond to calls for assistance from endangered residents by air within four hours, and were equipped to be self-sufficient for up to 48 hours if required. The local council in Croydon also installed retaining walls across roads in order to redirect the flow of floodwaters.

Despite the region being one of the most cyclone-prone areas of Australia, Mornington Island, located in the southeastern Gulf of Carpentaria, did not have a suitable cyclone shelter for residents to evacuate to. In the interest of safety, the local government offered an additional flight to Cairns for any residents who wished to evacuate. As a precaution, Queensland Health evacuated a total of 25 patients from medical facilities in Mornington Island, Pormpuraaw and Kowanyama, including pregnant women, dialysis patients and vulnerable elderly residents. An evacuation shelter was also prepared in Darwin, the Northern Territory's capital, to accommodate for potential evacuations from towns in the northeastern Top End. The Queensland Government's closed state schools in Pormpuraaw, Kowanyama, Karumba and Burketown prior to the arrival of the cyclone in order to protect students and teachers.

Impacts

Queensland

Nora was the first tropical cyclone to make landfall on Queensland's Gulf of Carpentaria coastline since Tropical Cyclone Oswald in 2013, and the first to do so at Category 3 or higher since Severe Tropical Cyclone Abigail in 2001. After making landfall, Nora tracked southwards along the coast, passing just to the east of Pormpuraaw at Category 3 intensity, and then west of Kowanyama as a Category 2 system. Neither town experienced the full strength of the cyclone; however, strong winds were still experienced in both communities. Kowanyama was subjected to sustained gale-force winds in the early morning of 25 March, and the local airport recorded a maximum wind gust of 100 km/h (62 mph) just before 18:00 UTC.

Pormpuraaw sustained the worst damage of all the towns on the Gulf coast, with damage to vegetation, buildings and infrastructure exceeding what had been expected. Significant vegetation damage was sustained throughout the town, with many trees being knocked over by the strong winds, including numerous large fig and mango trees. Several buildings were damaged by the falling trees, including the local shop and a council building. Many other properties, including houses, only narrowly avoided damage from other falling trees. Houses, community homes, other government buildings, the local school and personal property such as corrugated iron sheds sustained damage from the strong winds. Some vehicles were also damaged by wind and vegetation debris, and the local radio station's satellite dish was destroyed. The town's electricity network was largely destroyed, with many power lines being toppled by strong winds and falling trees. As a result, all 230 properties in Pormpuraaw lost power, as well as the local sewage treatment plant. Running water and conventional communications were also cut, forcing residents to rely on bottled water, radios and satellite phones. Many roads were blocked by flooding and the large number of downed trees and power lines, rendering movement around the town hazardous.

Other towns in the region also sustained damage. Mapoon, situated about 265 km (165 mi) north of where Nora made landfall, was the first place to lose electricity during the storm, with 30 properties losing power. In Kowanyama, three electrical feeders were shut down after sparking was reported, causing 250 properties to lose power. At least five houses in the town sustained damage from strong winds, as well as at least five pieces of infrastructure. Queensland Health reported that the medical clinics in Pormpuraaw and Kowanyama had both sustained damage; however, this was deemed to be only superficial in nature, and they were able to reopen the day after the cyclone. Nora also produced a large amount of rainfall. Kowanyama Airport recorded 128.2 mm (5.05 in) of precipitation during the 24 hours to 23:00 UTC on 24 March. Heavy monsoonal rainfall earlier in the month had already saturated local catchment areas, and rivers were susceptible to rising from further rainfall. Many roads in Pormpuraaw and Kowanyama became flooded and damaged, as well as roads between towns, causing several communities to become isolated and inaccessible by land. Several roads in other parts of Cape York Peninsula and Far North Queensland were also affected by floodwaters, such as near the towns of Coen, Lockhart River and Croydon. The level of Magnificent Creek also rose to about 2 m (6.6 ft) higher than normal from the rainfall. A storm surge of 1.2 m (3.9 ft) was recorded at the town of Weipa on the northern side of the cyclone, as well as large waves. Concerns were initially held for a boat that had ventured into the northern Gulf of Carpentaria during the cyclone; however, all passengers were accounted for after contact was made with the captain. Some livestock also escaped their enclosures in Kowanyama during the storm, including a bull and a horse.

After weakening to a tropical low, Nora became slow moving over south-central Far North Queensland for about two days. During this time, tropical moisture from Nora and an associated monsoon trough caused very heavy to extreme rainfall throughout the region. The BOM issued a flood watch for all areas from Townsville to Cape Tribulation, and a severe weather warning for heavy rainfall for large parts of the region. In parts of east coast and Gulf of Carpentaria coast of Queensland, 24-hour rainfall totals of 50–100 mm (2.0–3.9 in) were widespread, and many areas received seven-day totals in excess of 400 mm (16 in). The most intense precipitation occurred at Port Douglas, where 593.0 mm (23.35 in) of rainfall was recorded in the 24 hours to 23:00 UTC on 25 March. The city of Cairns also received very heavy rainfall, leading to flash flooding. Cars were swept away by floodwaters, undercover car parks were inundated, and a shopping centre and hotel were flooded with ankle-deep water. Torrential rainfall caused landslides and knocked down trees, blocking the Captain Cook Highway north of the city. Two Cairns residents were nearly buried by a landslide while driving on the highway to Port Douglas. The Kuranda Range Road on the Kennedy Highway, located just northwest of Cairns, also had to be closed due to rockslides. More than 40 people had to be rescued by the QFES on the night of 26–27 March after floodwaters threatened the caravan parks where they were staying. Two people had to be rescued by the State Emergency Service (SES) after getting into danger by driving into floodwaters. In total, the SES responded to more than 100 calls for assistance from endangered residents, including at least 85 in Cairns and Port Douglas on 25 March. At least 10 tonnes (22,000 lb) of sand was distributed for use in sandbags to mitigate damage from approaching floodwaters.

The agriculture industry in the region also sustained damage from flooding caused by Nora. Crops of banana and sugar cane were affected, and fences, dams and other farm infrastructure were damaged. Livestock losses were also sustained. Many farmers had already been affected by the heavy rainfall and flooding in February and early March.

Northern Territory

Prior to developing into a tropical cyclone, areas in the northeastern Arnhem Land experienced thunderstorms and gusty winds. The airport on Groote Eylandt, located off the east coast of the Top End, recorded wind gusts of up to 78 km/h (48 mph) on 22 March. After strengthening into a Category 1 tropical cyclone, Nora produced a short period of sustained gale-force winds at Cape Wessel, north of the Gove Peninsula, peaking with a gust of 83 km/h (52 mph). Heavy rainfall also occurred, with 224.4 mm (8.83 in) of precipitation recorded at Cape Wessel and 159.9 mm (6.30 in) in Nhulunbuy from 20 to 24 March.

Aftermath

Due to the flooding of many roads in and around Pormpuraaw and Kowanyama, as well as the number of trees and amount of vegetation strewn across the roads, the communities became inaccessible by land. The QFES urged residents to be careful when venturing outside, as the large number of power lines that had been knocked down posed a risk to safety. Power was restored to properties in Mapoon on the afternoon of 25 March after a repair crew was flown into the town. SES crews first arrived in Pormpuraaw on 26 March in order to assist with the cleanup operation. Ergon Energy used five aircraft to airlift repair crews, electrical generators, equipment and all-terrain vehicles from Cairns to the other towns that had suffered electricity cuts. Power was restored to the sewage treatment plant in Pormpuraaw by 26 March, and to all of the town's properties by 29 March.

After the adverse weather had cleared, local police officers in Kowanyama rounded up the livestock that had escaped their enclosures during the cyclone, including a bull and a horse. Additional police officers from Cairns were deployed to the worst-affected Far North Queensland communities during the two weeks following the cyclone to assist residents with clean up efforts. Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk, Minister for Fire and Emergency Services Craig Crawford, and local politician Cynthia Lui, also visited the townships on 28 March to assess the damage and support the local residents in their cleanup operation.

To assist in the recovery effort, the Queensland Government provided funding to residents and farmers who had been directly impacted by the event, as well as to local councils in the affected areas. A total of more than AU$200,000 (US$150,000) was distributed to residents in Pormpuraaw, Kowanyama and Mapoon. This money was able to be used for repairing essential household items such as refrigerators and washing machines, as well to assist those who had encountered financial hardship as a result of the cyclone to purchase food and clothing. Loans were also made available to owners of small businesses and farms that had been affected by flooding in several areas of Far North Queensland. Councils in a total of 14 local government areas were able to access disaster assistance money to repair damaged assets such as roads, and to aid in clean up efforts such as the removal of debris. These areas included Cairns, Carpentaria, Cook, Croydon, Douglas, Etheridge, Hinchinbrook and Lockhart River.

In June 2018, the Queensland Government announced that AU$6.5 million (US$5.0 million) would be spent on improving emergency services in Far North Queensland following Severe Tropical Cyclone Nora. Of these funds, AU$2.5 million (US$1.9 million) was committed to upgrading the QFES communications centre in Cairns. The remaining AU$4.0 million (US$3.1 million) would be provided for constructing and upgrading emergency services facilities in the Cape York Peninsula communities of Weipa and Horn Island. In September 2018, the Kowanyama Aboriginal Shire Council was given a grant of AU$1.1 million (US$840,000) in order to fund economic growth and jobs in the region, to establish a new road and construction unit, and to improve the area's disaster recovery capabilities.