page_title: Cyclone Nora
section_title: Queensland
hierarchical_section_title: Cyclone Nora / Impacts / Queensland
caption_attribution_description: English: Significant flooding west of Croydon, Queensland, from the extremely heavy rainfall generated by Severe Tropical Cyclone Nora in March 2018. Brightness and saturation edited from original.
context_page_description: Severe Tropical Cyclone Nora was a strong tropical cyclone that affected Far North Queensland and the northeastern Northern Territory during March 2018. The ninth named storm and third severe tropical cyclone of the 2017–18 Australian region cyclone season, Nora developed from a tropical low which formed near the Torres Strait on 19 March. The system initially moved quickly to the west-northwest, and then began tracking slowly southwestwards over the Arafura Sea while gradually developing. A turn to the east on 22 March brought the tropical low into a favourable environment for strengthening, and the system reached tropical cyclone intensity later that day. Nora then underwent a period of rapid intensification as it moved southeastwards into the Gulf of Carpentaria. The storm peaked on 23 March as a high-end Category 3 severe tropical cyclone with sustained winds of 155 km/h and a minimum barometric pressure of 958 hPa. Nora made landfall north of Pormpuraaw at about 13:00 UTC on 24 March as a minimal Category 3 system. Nora weakened steadily as it tracked southwards along the coast, and was downgraded to a tropical low the following day.
context_section_description: Nora was the first tropical cyclone to make landfall on Queensland's Gulf of Carpentaria coastline since Tropical Cyclone Oswald in 2013, and the first to do so at Category 3 or higher since Severe Tropical Cyclone Abigail in 2001. After making landfall, Nora tracked southwards along the coast, passing just to the east of Pormpuraaw at Category 3 intensity, and then west of Kowanyama as a Category 2 system. Neither town experienced the full strength of the cyclone; however, strong winds were still experienced in both communities. Kowanyama was subjected to sustained gale-force winds in the early morning of 25 March, and the local airport recorded a maximum wind gust of 100 km/h (62 mph) just before 18:00 UTC.
  Pormpuraaw sustained the worst damage of all the towns on the Gulf coast, with damage to vegetation, buildings and infrastructure exceeding what had been expected. Significant vegetation damage was sustained throughout the town, with many trees being knocked over by the strong winds, including numerous large fig and mango trees. Several buildings were damaged by the falling trees, including the local shop and a council building. Many other properties, including houses, only narrowly avoided damage from other falling trees. Houses, community homes, other government buildings, the local school and personal property such as corrugated iron sheds sustained damage from the strong winds. Some vehicles were also damaged by wind and vegetation debris, and the local radio station's satellite dish was destroyed. The town's electricity network was largely destroyed, with many power lines being toppled by strong winds and falling trees. As a result, all 230 properties in Pormpuraaw lost power, as well as the local sewage treatment plant. Running water and conventional communications were also cut, forcing residents to rely on bottled water, radios and satellite phones. Many roads were blocked by flooding and the large number of downed trees and power lines, rendering movement around the town hazardous.
  Other towns in the region also sustained damage. Mapoon, situated about 265 km (165 mi) north of where Nora made landfall, was the first place to lose electricity during the storm, with 30 properties losing power. In Kowanyama, three electrical feeders were shut down after sparking was reported, causing 250 properties to lose power. At least five houses in the town sustained damage from strong winds, as well as at least five pieces of infrastructure. Queensland Health reported that the medical clinics in Pormpuraaw and Kowanyama had both sustained damage; however, this was deemed to be only superficial in nature, and they were able to reopen the day after the cyclone. Nora also produced a large amount of rainfall. Kowanyama Airport recorded 128.2 mm (5.0 in) of precipitation during the 24 hours to 23:00 UTC on 24 March. Heavy monsoonal rainfall earlier in the month had already saturated local catchment areas, and rivers were susceptible to rising from further rainfall. Many roads in Pormpuraaw and Kowanyama became flooded and damaged, as well as roads between towns, causing several communities to become isolated and inaccessible by land. Several roads in other parts of Cape York Peninsula and Far North Queensland were also affected by floodwaters, such as near the towns of Coen, Lockhart River and Croydon. The level of Magnificent Creek also rose to about 2 m (7 ft) higher than normal from the rainfall. A storm surge of 1.2 m (3.9 ft) was recorded at the town of Weipa on the northern side of the cyclone, as well as large waves. Concerns were initially held for a boat that had ventured into the northern Gulf of Carpentaria during the cyclone; however, all passengers were accounted for after contact was made with the captain. Some livestock also escaped their enclosures in Kowanyama during the storm, including a bull and a horse.
  After weakening to a tropical low, Nora became slow moving over south-central Far North Queensland for about two days. During this time, tropical moisture from Nora and an associated monsoon trough caused 
caption: Flooding to the west of Croydon from torrential rainfall generated by Nora.
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