MOSCOW (Sputnik) – The Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology is warning of gales and highly destructive winds as tropical cyclones Olwyn and Nathan continue to rage off the west and northeast coasts of Australia, respectively.
"The centre of Severe Tropical Cyclone Olwyn is tracking very close to the coast as it moves southwards towards Carnarvon. The system is expected to remain a severe tropical cyclone before slowly weakening during this afternoon," the bureau's Tropical Cyclone Warning Centre said in a statement issued on Friday.
According to the statement, Olwyn, which has been classified as a Category 3 cyclone, is expected to bring heavy rain and destructive winds and gales to southern parts of Western Australia.
Meanwhile another cyclone, Nathan, continues to move off the northeast Queensland coast of Australia and is expected to move further east later on Friday, according to a separate statement issued by the Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology's Tropical Cyclone Warning Centre.
"Areas of heavy rain will continue about parts of the Peninsula and North Tropical Coast and Tablelands districts this morning before gradually easing later tonight as the cyclone [Nathan] begins to move away from the coast. A Flood Watch is current for North Tropical Coast catchments north of Innisfail and some Flood Warnings are also current," the statement says.
According to the meteorology bureau, Nathan has maintained a Category 2 cyclone intensity.
The bureau issued high seas warnings in connection with both Olwyn and Nathan on Friday.
