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