Qld: Cyclone Monica upgraded to category five

AAP General News (Australia)
04-22-2006
Qld: Cyclone Monica upgraded to category five

Severe tropical cyclone Monica has been upgraded to category five as it descends on
the the Northern Territory coast.

The system .. which has several aboriginal communities in its path .. was upgraded
at 5pm (AEST) today.

The Northern Territory Bureau of Meteorology (NTBM) says it's sweeping north west at
5 kph from the northern Gulf of Carpentaria and is about 260 kilometres east of Nhulunbuy.

The bureau says the cyclone should maintain its current intensity as it moves towards
the coast overnight.

Weather maps of the region show that the cyclone has slightly changed course in the
past two hours and is moving north west .. away from the mainland.

However .. coastal tips are still in its path.

AAP RTV sjk/jv

KEYWORD: MONICA (BRISBANE)

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