Two cyclones are inching toward northern Australia, and both are expected to make landfall at nearly the same time.
Tropical cyclones Lam and Marcia are threatening the country's Northern Territory and Queensland states, respectively, according to News Australia. Both tropical systems are packing sustained winds well over 100 mph.
"Northwest Australia has the most frequent encounters with tropical cyclones, averaging about two landfalls each season," said weather.com meteorologist Chris Dolce. "This is where Tropical Cyclone Lam will make landfall."
Cyclone Lam forced the evacuation of Warruwi, a small town on Goulburn Island, News Australia also reported. The town's 430 residents were moved to the mainland before the storm arrived.
Meanwhile, Queensland premier Annastacia Palaszczuk met with disaster managers in northern Brisbane to be briefed by emergency officials before Marcia arrived, the Guardian reported. Authorities warned of heavy rainfall, extremely high tides and dangerous surf.
"This is an important time now not to panic but to make sure you have your preparations in place," Palaszczuk said, according to the Guardian's report.
Queenslanders spent the hours before Marcia's landfall clearing store shelves of supplies as they stocked up in preparation for the storm, Reuters reported. The state's biggest port, the Port of Gladstone, has stopped ship-loading operations and moved all ships away from the harbor, the report said.
It might be rare for two cyclones to make landfall at virtually the same time, but it's not uncommon for tropical systems to impact Australia.
The season typically runs from November to April in the Southern Hemisphere.
http://www.wunderground.com/news/australia-cyclone-lam-marcia
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