Cyclonic winds have cut power, brought down trees and blocked roads on Norfolk Island, with residents urged to take shelter as Tropical Cyclone Gabrielle tracks towards the island.
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The Bureau of Meteorology says gale-force winds could impact the island through Saturday night and into Sunday.
In an update on Saturday afternoon, the Bureau said conditions on the island were deteriorating as the cyclone approached, with the cyclone expected to pass very near, or over the island this evening.
Emergency Management Norfolk Island (EMNI) moved the island to a red alert from 1pm (12pm AEDT) Saturday, meaning people should stay inside until further notice.
“While the red alert is in place please keep listening to the radio for the cyclone’s progress,” EMNI said in a statement.
“Prepare to move to the strongest part of your house, or if you need to, relocate to the Emergency Shelter at Rawson Hall.”
The storm was downgraded from a category three to a category two system but is still set to bring destructive winds, heavy rain and abnormally high tides.
Much of the island has lost power.
Norfolk Island’s Emergency Controller George Plant said gale-force winds and heavy rain started to ramp up around the island on Saturday morning.
“We’re happy that it’s been downgraded to a category two again, but still, with 155km an hour winds, we’re expecting some sort of damage,” he said.
The bureau has recommended residents and visitors on the island “complete preparations quickly and be prepared to shelter in a safe place”.
The last cyclone to impact Norfolk Island was a year ago when the eye of Cyclone Dovi passed about 200km to the island’s west.
The BOM forecasts Tropical Cyclone Gabrielle will weaken to a tropical low by late Sunday or early Monday and will continue on its path towards New Zealand’s North Island.
The Meteorological Service of New Zealand has issued warnings to North Island residents with Gabrielle’s impacts expected to be felt there from Saturday night.
“This is expected to be a widespread and extreme weather event,” the Met Service said on Saturday afternoon.
“Very heavy rain, damaging winds and large waves are forecast for many parts of northern and central New Zealand.”
Norfolk Island resident Kate Lemerle said winds rapidly intensified early on Saturday.
“The island has never had a cyclone of this magnitude and none of our houses have built to cyclone standards,” she said.
“So it is unknown whether the roof will blow off or whether I will come out the other side completely intact.”
It’s rare for cyclones to come within 50 kilometres of Norfolk Island, especially systems graded as category two or above.
The Bureau of Meteorology said over the last 30 to 40 years, only three cyclones have come within 50km.
Norfolk Island is about 1,500 kilometres south-east of Brisbane, and is administered by the Commonwealth although the Queensland government provides health and education services.
It has a population of about 2,200, and Norfolk Island Administrator Eric Hutchinson estimated there were between 800 and 900 visitors on the island on Saturday morning.
Mr Hutchinson said residents had a “pretty wild night” on Friday evening and into Saturday as conditions started to deteriorate.
Although dozens of cyclones have passed within 500km of it, the island does not have a cyclone shelter.
The island only has a small, 12-bed hospital facility, but a spokesperson for the Norfolk Health and Residential Aged Care Service (NIHRACS) on Friday said services will continue.
Queensland Health also has staff and equipment on hand to help if required.
“Norfolk Island has an incredibly resilient population, has activated their cyclone arrangements and is well-prepared,” a Queensland Health spokesperson said.
“Queensland Health, including Metro North Health, are also standing by and ready to assist.”
