Australia Weather News

Residents on a remote Australian territory more than a thousand kilometres from the mainland are bunkering indoors ahead of Tropical Cyclone Grant.

The system is expected to strengthen to a category two cyclone overnight as it nears the Cocos (Keeling) Islands, bringing destructive wind gusts of up to 140 kph.

As rainfall and strong winds began to lash the islands on the afternoon of Christmas Eve, residents were forced to change their festive plans.

Manager of the Cocos (Keeling) Islands resource centre Rose Cummins said a community lunch organised on the main beach had been cancelled.

She said the weather at this time of year was always unpredictable.

"You always hope for the best and plan for the worst, and I guess we'll see what happens," she said.

"We won't have Christmas this year like everyone else.

"It's just the uncertainty of cyclones — you never know quite what they're going to do."

Islanders brace for the evening

Cocos (Keeling) Islands Tourism Association chair Dieter Gerhard said most of the cyclone preparation had already been done.

"Yesterday was really the preparation day — most of the island has been preparing for this blow for some time," Mr Gerhard said.

"Our challenge will be just how much wind it does bring to us tonight.

"There'll be a time tonight where it's perhaps not wise to be moving around and [police and emergency services] will be discouraging that."

Mr Gerhard said residents had the option of going to a cyclone shelter or sheltering in their homes, and urged caution for those wanting to celebrate on Christmas Day.

"At this stage, my plans would probably be to stay put and ride it out," he said.

"If you move to somewhere to continue a Christmas celebration, it'll be frowned upon … but visiting your neighbours and, you know, a bit of Christmas cheer there is certainly available today."

The Cocos (Keeling) Islands comprise of 27 islands, of which only two – West Island and Home Island – are inhabited.

It has a population of about 600 people and is about midway between Australia and Sri Lanka.

Large waves, flooding expected

Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) duty forecaster Helen Reid said the system will intensify as it moves westward towards the islands on Wednesday evening.

"Gales, damaging wind gusts could start late this evening and into early tomorrow morning and we can also expect to see the heavy rainfall leading to flash flooding," she said.

"The other thing to note is large waves and the minor flooding through the coastal areas and strong currents through the lagoon."

Memories of another Christmas cyclone

Senior Imam on the islands Haji Adam remembers when Cyclone Tracy devastated the islands 51 years ago, which also impacted the community during Christmas time.

He said during that time, there was less "control" in emergency situations and no cyclone shelters.

"It's very scary with the cyclone because the eye of the cyclone [Tracy] at the time was really on the top of the islands."

Sandbagging has been underway on Home Island, where Mr Adam the main concern is flooding.

"We are really lucky at the moment the oceans surrounding the islands is really low tide," he said.

"There's a number of island areas that are expecting to be full of flood, full of water."