Weather News – Cyclone Niran turns ‘severe’

Cyclone Niran turns ‘severe’

Ben Domensino,

Thursday March 4, 2021 – 10:23 EDT

Tropical Cyclone Niran has strengthened into a category 3 severe tropical cyclone over the Coral Sea, with wind gusts hitting 165km/h near its core.

Niran became a category 3 cyclone at around 7am AEST on Thursday. At that time, its centre was located about 345km to the northeast of Cairns and wind speeds near its eye were averaging 120km/h, with gusts up to 165km/h.

Image: Visible satellite image of Tropical Cyclone Niran at 9am AEST on Thursday. Source: RAMMB/CIRA

While Cyclone Niran’s very destructive eyewall winds are churning up the Coral Sea, it’s too far away from land to cause damaging winds in…