Warnings as Cyclone Owen bears down on the Northern Territory and Queensland coasts

Destructive “zombie cyclone” Owen is bearing down on Australia today with coastal residents being told to brace for the worst.

Destructive Cyclone Owen is bearing down on the north of Australia with coastal residents being told to brace for the worst if the system reaches category four today.

The storm cracked through the dome! #thisisqueensland #summerstorms @tsv_bulletin pic.twitter.com/wxKw6LMulL

— Cas Garvey (@casgarvey) December 13, 2018

The “very destructive and severe” cyclone continues to increase in strength as it heads back towards Queensland, promising to deliver a deluge in its wake.

Owen has been meandering in the Gulf of Carpentaria, between Port Roper and Port McArthur with sustained winds near the centre of 140 kilometres per hour and wind gusts to 195km/h.

It was upgraded to a category three storm yesterday afternoon and the Bureau of Meteorology said it may reach category four intensity early today.

An emergency alert was issued for Pormpuraaw, which is likely to get destructive winds from this afternoon.

Residents are being urged take action and warn others to seek shelter.

Gusts to 205km/h are possible in the cyclone’s centre, with its exact path still unclear.

[Source:News.com.au]