A cyclone warning has been issued for Nhulunbuy to Queensland border, including Groote Eylandt, Numbulwar, Port Roper, and Port McArthur.
Inland areas extending west to Barunga and Mataranka have been included in a watch zone.
The cyclone, with destructive gusts up to 140 kilometres per hour, was expected to cross the coast between Cape Shield and Nathan River on Wednesday afternoon.
Gales with gusts up to 100 km/h may extend west to Barunga and Mataranka overnight on Wednesday as the cyclone moves inland.
Heavy rain was likely to develop across parts of the Arnhem and Carpentaria Districts from Wednesday and was expected to cause flooding of low lying areas and river rises.
People in the warning area should be ready for a cyclone and wet and windy conditions by finalising home preparations and knowing where to shelter.
IN OTHER NEWS:
Communities under a cyclone watch should consider what action to take if the threat increases and activate their household plans.
The area of a warning for severe thunderstorms is now around Boorooloola stretching to the Queensland border.
The storms are likely to produce damaging winds and heavy rainfall that may lead to flash flooding in the warning area over the next several hours.
