Issued at 9:05 pm WST on Thursday, 21 January 2010
BY THE BUREAU OF METEOROLOGY
TROPICAL CYCLONE WARNING CENTRE PERTH
A Cyclone WARNING is current for coastal areas from Mitchell Plateau to Beagle
Bay.
A Cyclone WATCH is current for coastal areas from Beagle Bay to Bidyadanga, and
extends to remaining inland parts of the west Kimberley.
At 8:00 pm WST Tropical Cyclone Magda, Category 2 was relocated by satellite and
surface observations and estimated to be
115 kilometres north northwest of Kuri Bay and
305 kilometres north of Derby and
moving southeast at 11 kilometres per hour towards the coast.
Tropical Cyclone Magda has been relocated based on recent satellite imagery and
is taking a southeastwards track towards the Kimberley coast. Magda has weakened
a little during the afternoon but is likely to reintenisify overnight and reach
category three as it impacts the Kimberley coast during Friday.
There is the risk of very destructive winds with gusts to 250 kilometres per
hour near the cyclone centre on Friday, when the cyclone should be close to the
coast, between Mitchell Plateau and Cockatoo Island.
Gales with gusts to 100 kilometres per hour may develop in coastal areas between
Mitchell Plateau and Cockatoo Island tonight as the cyclone approaches. Gales
may extend to Derby later on Friday and may reach as far south as Bidyadanga
including Broome on Saturday.
Heavy rainfall, with falls in excess of 100mm, is expected near the cyclone
track in the west Kimberley on Friday and Saturday.
Tides on Friday will be higher than expected between Mitchell Plateau and
Cockatoo Island with flooding of low lying areas possible.
FESA State Emergency Service [SES] advises of the following community alerts:
RED ALERT: People in or near Kuri Bay need to go to shelter immediately.
YELLOW ALERT: People in or near communities between Koolan Island and Cape
Leveque, including the communities of Koolan Island, Cockatoo Island, One Arm
Point, Lombadina, Djarindjin and Cape Leveque need to take action and get ready
to shelter from a cyclone.
BLUE ALERT: People in the remaining coastal communities between Mitchell Plateau
and Beagle Bay, including the communities of Mitchell Plateau, Derby and Beagle
Bay need to prepare for cyclonic weather and organise an emergency kit including
first aid kit, torch, portable radio, spare batteries, food and water.
Remaining communities in the west Kimberley including Broome should listen for
the next advice.
Details of Tropical Cyclone Magda at 8:00 pm WST:
.Centre located near...... 14.6 degrees South 124.1 degrees East
.Location accuracy........ within 45 kilometres
.Recent movement.......... towards the southeast at 11 kilometres per hour
.Wind gusts near centre... 130 kilometres per hour
.Severity category........ 2
.Central pressure......... 987 hectoPascals
The next advice will be issued by 12:00 am WST Friday 22 January.
Cyclone advices and State Emergency Service Community Alerts are available by
dialling 1300 659 210
A map showing the track of the cyclone is available at:
http://www.bom.gov.au/weather/cyclone
