Australians evacuate, prepare before cyclones

Around 2,000 people evacuated from the east coast of the Northern Territory on precautionary ground ahead of strong winds, mountainous waves and flooding rain that are forecast. Cyclones Trevor and Veronica are expected cross the east shore of the Northern Territory on Saturday morning and Sunday night respectively.

Borroloola:Two powerful cyclones are bearing down on Australia's sparsely populated north where around 2,000 people have been evacuated from the east coast of the Northern Territory ahead of strong winds, mountainous waves and flooding rain that are forecast.

Cyclones are frequent in Australia's tropical north and rarely claim lives. But two large storms such as Cyclones Trevor and Veronica crossing land on the same weekend is rare.

Bureau of Meteorology manager Todd Smith said on Friday that Trevor is expected to cross the east shore of the Northern Territory on Saturday morning as a Category 4 storm. It currently has sustained winds of 130 kph (80 mph).

Veronica is also expected to be a Category 4 when it crosses the coast of Western Australia state over Sunday night.