Cyclone Ingrid threatens Northern Territory

BRISBANE - Tropical Cyclone Ingrid could reintensify in the warm waters of the Gulf of Carpentaria before turning its fury on the Northern Territory.

Queensland's Cyclone Warning Centre meteorologist Cathy Muller said Ingrid might be down but it certainly wasn't out and could strike NT within two days.

She warned residents between Nhulunbuy and Port Macarthur to start cyclone preparations.

Ingrid, described as Queensland's worst cyclone in 30 years, had struck fear into the hearts of far north Queenslanders for almost a week after forming in the Gulf of Carpentaria on March 4.

Although rated as a category five monster at its peak, when Ingrid finally struck the coast near the Aboriginal settlement of Lockhart River just after 6am (9am NZT) yesterday it left little destruction in her wake.

Experts said the limited damage was less to do with Ingrid's lack of might - it was rated a severe category four when it crossed packing winds up to 260km/h - and more to do with its path.

Ingrid crossed in an unpopulated area, with the settlement protected from the worst of the destructive winds by high terrain.

Ms Muller said although Ingrid had been downgraded to a category one yesterday afternoon after a 12-hour journey across Cape York, last night it was still showing no signs of breaking up into a rain depression.

At 8pm local time it was close to Aurukun and was heading into the gulf.

A cyclone warning was in place for communities between Weipa and Cape Keerweer in Queensland and between Nhulunbuy and Alyangula, including the whole of Groote Eylandt, in the NT.

The bureau also issued a cyclone watch in the Northern Territory between Elcho Island and Port Mcarthur.

- AAP