Cyclone 'Ingrid' batters tip of Northern Territory

BRISBANE - Strong winds from Cyclone Ingrid - upgraded to its original strength of category five - are battering the tip of the Northern Territory.

But the destructive core of the big storm - as powerful as Cyclone Tracey which flattened Darwin in 1974 - is out to sea, sparing communities its full force.

"The eye of the cyclone is quite small but it is the strongest part so thankfully it's out at sea and none of these towns have been hit by its full force," a spokesman from the Cyclone Warning Centre said.

At 4.30pm NZT, Ingrid was heading west towards Cape Don and Point Stuart, about 130km east of Darwin, at 20kmh.

Police in Darwin said they were not yet feeling any impact of the cyclone, which was moving in their direction, but were warning residents to be prepared.

Earlier today, the cyclone -- then rated a category four -- skirted the small mining town of Nhulunbuy, on the Gove Peninsula, and community of Elcho Island, in the Arafura Sea.

Early reports indicate no injuries but large amounts of debris had fallen from trees, downing power lines.

Town clerk for Galiwinku in the island's southwest Mike Newton said many residents had fled their homes to take cover in the island's health centre.

"Even I had to leave my house as it's on the beachfront and I don't think the windows would withstand the force of the rain and winds," he said.

"We will have to assess the damage in the town once the cyclone passes."

Nhulunbuy remained without power and the airport was closed.

- AAP