Issued at 4:35 am WDT on Friday, 9 March 2007
BY THE BUREAU OF METEOROLOGY
TROPICAL CYCLONE WARNING CENTRE PERTH
A CYCLONE WARNING for a SEVERE CATEGORY 4 cyclone is now current for coastal
areas from Dampier to Sandfire Roadhouse and inland to Tom Price, Newman,
Paraburdoo, Marble Bar and Nullagine
At 4:00 am WDT Severe Tropical Cyclone George was estimated to be
85 kilometres south of Port Hedland and
120 kilometres west of Marble Bar
and moving south southwest at 19 kilometres per hour.
Severe Tropical Cyclone George is now moving over inland parts of the Pilbara
south of Port Hedland towards Yandeyarra and West Angeles. VERY DESTRUCTIVE
winds are still possible near the track in the next three to six hours although
the cyclone is now beginning to weaken as it moves further inland.
At Port Hedland VERY DESTRUCTIVE winds have most likely ceased at Port Hedland
but DESTRUCTIVE winds with gusts to 150 kilometres per hour are still possible
for the next few hours. Winds should progressively ease throughout the day as
the system moves on a south or south southwest track further inland.
DESTRUCTIVE winds with gusts to 130 kilometres per hour may extend inland to
Marble Bar this morning extending further south towards Tom Price and Newman
during the day.
GALES with wind gusts to 110 kilometres per hour are expected through the
remaining parts of the warning area today.
WIDESPREAD HEAVY RAIN and FLOODING are likely across the Pilbara, with falls in
excess of 200 millimetres possible close to the cyclone track.
Severe Tropical Cyclone George earlier crossed the coast at 10 pm just to the
east of Port Hedland with VERY DESTRUCTIVE winds gusts to 275 kilometres per
hour. Port Hedland experienced the western side of the VERY DESTRUCTIVE core of
the cyclone between 10pm and midnight.
Advices will be issued at 15 minutes past the hour for the immediate future.
Details of Severe Tropical Cyclone George at 4:00 am WDT.
Location of centre : within 35 kilometres of
latitude 21.1 south longitude 118.6 east
Recent movement : south southwest at 19 kilometres per hour
Central Pressure : 930 hectopascals
Maximum wind gusts : 230 kilometres per hour near the centre.
Severity category : 4
FESA-State Emergency Service advises of the following alerts.
RED ALERT: People in or near coastal communities of Port Hedland, Whim Creek,
Pardoo, Marble Bar and Nullagine should move to shelter.
YELLOW ALERT: People in or near coastal communities between Sandfire Roadhouse
and Dampier including Roebourne, Wickham, Karratha, Point Samson, Dampier and in
or near the inland communities of Tom Price, Pannawonica and Paraburdoo should
be taking action in preparation for the cyclone's impact.
The next advice will be issued by 6:15 am WDT Friday 09 March.
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/wa/cyclone
Far inland and still holding tough!!!
