Tropical Cyclone Gabrielle Intensifies On Norfolk Island

Norfolk Island is preparing for Tropical Cyclone Gabrielle to hit the island in the next 24 hours.

Hundreds of residents have taken shelter as the severe storm batters the region.

By Friday morning, Gabrielle had intensified to a Category 3 severe tropical cyclone and was located approximately 1,410 km northwest of Norfolk Island and 600 km off the Queensland coast.

The Norfolk Island Cyclone Response Plan has been activated and has been raised to an Orange Alert, meaning residents have been warned to prepare for impact within the next 12 to 24 hours.

On Friday, Tropical Cyclone Gabrielle is predicted by meteorological authorities to become a category three cyclone.

Off the east coast of Queensland, the storm is currently a category 2 hurricane.

The updated “severe” classification for category 3 tropical cyclones places their average wind speeds between 119 and 157 km/h.

On Saturday in the late afternoon, Gabrielle is anticipated to leave the Coral Sea between New Caledonia and Australia and continue towards Norfolk Island.

In the north of New Caledonia, it is currently situated 1200 kilometres from the island of Belep.

After the tropical low developed into Cyclone Gabrielle, emergency services on Norfolk Island had already triggered their cyclone response plan.

The Commonwealth of Australia administers Norfolk Island, which is located roughly 1,500 kilometres southeast of Brisbane. However, Queensland is responsible for providing health and educational services.

There are around 2,200 people living there, and on Saturday morning, according to Norfolk Island Administrator Eric Hutchinson, 800 to 900 people were visiting the island.

The island lacks a cyclone shelter despite the fact that numerous storms have passed within 500 kilometres of it.

A representative for the Norfolk Health and Residential Aged Care Service (NIHRACS), which operates the island’s sole 12-bed hospital, confirmed on Friday that services will continue.

If assistance is needed, Queensland Health also has personnel and resources available.

Norfolk Island’s residents are “very resilient,” have activated their cyclone plans, and are well-prepared, according to a Queensland Health representative.

Metro North Health, a division of Queensland Health, is also available and prepared to help.