Source: Bureau of Meteorology
Issued at 8:52 am WST on Thursday 11 January 2018
Headline:
Tropical Cyclone Joyce has formed off the west Kimberley coast and
is expected to intensify today while moving in a southwesterly
direction. There is a risk of a severe tropical cyclone impacting
the Pilbara or far west Kimberley coast during Friday, or early on
Saturday.
Areas Affected:
Warning Zone
Cape Leveque to De Grey, including Broome, as well as remaining
inland parts of the far western Kimberley and far northeast
Pilbara.
Watch Zone
De Grey to Dampier, including Port Hedland, Karratha and Dampier,
as well as remaining inland parts of the central and eastern
Pilbara, including Nullagine, Marble Bar and Telfer
Cancelled Zone
None.
Details of Tropical Cyclone Joyce at 8:00 am AWST:
Intensity: Category 1, sustained winds near the centre of 65
kilometres per hour with wind gusts to 95 kilometres per
hour.
Location: within 35 kilometres of 16.8 degrees South 121.7 degrees
East, estimated to be 140 kilometres north northwest of Broome and
140 kilometres west southwest of Cape Leveque.
Movement: southwest at 6 kilometres per hour.
The uncertainty in the forecast track means that it is still
possible the system could impact coastal parts of the central and
western Pilbara late on Friday or during Saturday.
Hazards:
GALES with gusts to 100 kilometres per hour are possible today
between Cape Leveque and Broome. GALES may extend to areas between
Broome and Wallal Downs during Thursday afternoon and evening, and
to areas between Wallal Downs and Port Hedland on Friday. If the
system tracks further to the west then GALES are possible in areas
between Port Hedland and Whim Creek.
DESTRUCTIVE winds with gusts to 130 kilometres per hour may
develop in coastal parts between Beagle Bay and Wallal Downs,
including Broome, later on Thursday if the system is close enough
to the coast. DESTRUCTIVE winds may extend to Pardoo Roadhouse
during Friday.
VERY DESTRUCTIVE winds with gusts to 180 kilometres per hour are
possible near the centre of the system on Friday, if it develops
into a severe tropical cyclone.
Tides will be higher than expected between Cape Leveque and Pardoo
Roadhouse.
Heavy rainfall is expected over the northwest and west Kimberley
coast, extending to the far eastern Pilbara during Thursday.
Widespread daily rainfall totals of around 50 to 150 mm are
expected with isolated heavier falls of 150-300 mm possible. Flood
Watches and Warnings are current. Please refer to
http://www.bom.gov.au/wa/warnings/ for further details.
Recommended Action:
DFES advises of the following community alerts:
YELLOW ALERT: People in, near or between Cape Leveque and
Bidyadanga, including Broome and Bidyadanga need to take action and
get ready to shelter from a cyclone.
BLUE ALERT: People in, near and between Bidyadanga and Port
Hedland, including Port Hedland, South Hedland, Marble Bar and
nearby communities, need to prepare for cyclonic weather and
organise an emergency kit including first aid kit, torch, portable
radio, spare batteries, food and water.
Current
Tropical Cyclones
11/Jan/2018 12:22 PM