Tropical Cyclone Megan intensifies to a category-three storm as it bears down on Northern Territory and Queensland

Wind gusts of up to 200km/h expected to bring heavy rain and flooding to coastal communities

• Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates
• Get our morning and afternoon news emails, free app or daily news podcast

Top End communities are braced for Monday's arrival of severe Tropical Cyclone Megan, with destructive wind gusts of up to 200km/h expected to bring widespread damage, heavy rainfall and potential flooding to coastal communities into next week.

The weather system intensified to category three on Sunday and Miriam Bradbury from the Bureau of Meteorology said it was expected to remain a category three as it crossed the coast on Monday.

Sign up for Guardian Australia's free morning and afternoon email newsletters for your daily news roundup