NT: Darwin drenched by Cyclone Laurence

AAP General News (Australia)
12-13-2009
NT: Darwin drenched by Cyclone Laurence

BRISBANE, Dec 13 AAP - Darwin is mopping up, with the nation's first cyclone for the
season dumping a month's worth of rain on the city.

The Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) said 250 millimetres fell in the 24 hours to 9am (CST),
three millimetres more than the average for December.

The rain and a king tide flooded the city, with half a metre of water over western
suburbs including Ludmilla, Coconut Grove, The Gardens and The Wharf Precinct.

The storm also brought down trees and power lines.

Electricity was cut for about three hours across most of the city, from 2pm to 5pm.

Police Superintendent Bruce Porter told AAP Stuart Park, Parap, Larrakeyah, Marrara,
Humpty Doo and Herbert were without power.

The tropical low has been upgraded to a category one cyclone and is heading west.

Cyclone Laurence is sitting 200 kilometres southwest of Darwin.

BoM issued a cyclone warning for coastal areas from Mitchell Plateau to Wyndham, in
Western Australia.

Winds up to 100km/h are expected to hit the coast on Sunday afternoon or Monday morning.

Heavy rain is expected in the far north Kimberley region this afternoon and may cause
localised flooding.

AAP ka/jfm

KEYWORD: LAURENCE

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