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Cyclone Tiffany intensifies, heads for Northern Territory towns

Residents in the Northern Territory are being warned to prepare for wild weather as ex-Tropical Cyclone Tiffany moves towards the Top End.

The Bureau of Meteorology issued a cyclone watch for the territory, predicting dangerous winds, heavy rain and potentially severe thunderstorms.

According to the bureau, Cyclone Tiffany has moved into the Gulf of Carpentaria and is expected to redevelop and impact the eastern Northern Territory coast.

A weather radar image showing heavy rain coming through the Northern territory from Cyclone Tiffany.
The Northern Territory is bracing for Tropical Cyclone Tiffany. Source: Weatherzone

Tiffany is expected to reach a category two tropical cyclone when it crosses the Gulf— along the Roper Groote Coast— on Wednesday.

"Severe thunderstorm warning for Groote Eylandt and parts of Arnhem District," the Bureau of Meteorology, Northern Territory tweeted on Tuesday.

"Damaging wind & Heavy Rainfall as severe thunderstorms approach Groote Eylandt."

Heavy rain expected to cause flooding

Wind gusts up to 100 km/h may extend westward to Barunga and Mataranka in the NT overnight on Wednesday as the cyclone moves inland.

Heavy rain is likely to develop across parts of the Arnhem and Carpentaria Districts from Wednesday and is expected to cause flooding of low lying areas as the river rises.

BoM Senior Meteorologist Dean Narramore said in a statement on Monday the bureau would continue to monitor Tropical Cyclone Tiffany and provide updates as it progresses across the Cape and into the Gulf.

An image showing the town of Maryborough's CBD flooded with a man in a small boat in high flood waters.
Maryborough CBD in Queensland was evacuated after being hammered by rain. Source: AAP

"Far North Queensland is experiencing the power of Tropical Cyclone Tiffany, and these impacts will be felt for the next day or so throughout North Queensland and then into the Northern Territory," Mr Narramore said.

"These tropical systems intensify quickly and can shift direction very quickly as they develop, so the Bureau will be updating our warnings and advice to the community and our emergency services colleagues across Queensland and Northern Territory."

Maryborough CBD in southeast Queensland was evacuated on Sunday after a malfunction in the underground gates in the town's levee, causing severe flooding.

120mm rain dumped in 24 hours

Tiffany was a category two cyclone packing winds of up to 130km/h when it crossed the coast of the Cape York Peninsula on Monday afternoon.

Cyclone Tiffany, which has weakened to a tropical low, dumped 120mm of rain in some areas in the 24 hours to 9am on Monday.

However, the BoM said the heaviest rainfall would be in the 24 hours to midday on Tuesday with up 200mm to be dumped on the region.

According to Weatherzone, rainfall totals between 100-300mm are possible between Thursday and Sunday, with some areas at risk of receiving more than half a metre of rain over three days.

Two women in their 30s and a man in his 20s were rushed to hospital after their vehicle was caught in floodwaters at 1.30am on Tuesday, triggered by Cyclone Tiffany in Far North Queensland.

The three managed to exit the vehicle and were found clinging to a tree, before they were transported to Mareeba Hospital in stable conditions.

With AAP.

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