The center of Severe Tropical Cyclone Nathan is very near the coast of Queensland and it is about to make landfall between Cape Flattery and Cape Melville.  At 11:00 a.m. EDT on Thursday the center of Nathan was located at latitude 14.7°S and longitude 145.6°E which put it about 20 miles northeast of Cape Flattery and about 50 miles north-northeast of Cooktown, Australia.  Nathan was moving toward the west at 11 m.p.h.  The maximum sustained wind speed was 105 m.p.h. and there were gusts to 140 m.p.h.  The minimum surface pressure was 953 mb.

A subtropical ridge is steering Nathan westward and this motion is expected to continue.  The center of Nathan will make landfall soon between Cape Flattery and Cape Melville.  It is capable of producing wind damage and a significant storm surge near where the center crosses the coast.  Nathan could also produce locally heavy rainfall and flooding in some locations.  It is possible that the circulation could emerge intact over the Gulf of Carpentaria.  In that case Nathan could re-intensify somewhat and possibly pose a risk to the western side of the Gulf.