Issued at 11:55 am WST on Sunday, 20 December 2009
BY THE BUREAU OF METEOROLOGY
TROPICAL CYCLONE WARNING CENTRE PERTH
A Cyclone WARNING has been declared for coastal areas from Beagle Bay to Port
Hedland.
A Cyclone WATCH continues for adjacent inland parts of the southwest Kimberley
and north Pilbara, extending inland as far as Telfer.
At 11:00 am WST Tropical Cyclone Laurence was estimated to be
140 kilometres west of Broome and
200 kilometres north of Wallal
moving southwest at 7 kilometres per hour.
Tropical Cyclone Laurence is moving southwestwards. It is expected to intensify
further during today and begin moving on a more southerly track toward Eighty
Mile Beach tomorrow. People between Bidyadanga and Pardoo are warned of the risk
of VERY DESTRUCTIVE winds late Monday or on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, today a period of gales could develop on the coast between Beagle Bay
and Bidyadanga.
Heavy rainfall is expected in coastal parts of the west Kimberley and east
Pilbara over the next twenty four hours.
FESA-State Emergency Service advises as a precautionary measure the following
community alerts:
YELLOW ALERT: People in communities from Eco Beach to Wallal need to take action
and get ready to shelter from a cyclone.
BLUE ALERT: People in communities from Wallal to Pardoo need to prepare for
cyclonic weather.
ALL CLEAR WITH CAUTION: People in or near Broome are advised to proceed with
caution.
Communities in the southwest Kimberley and northern Pilbara should listen for
the next advice.
Details of Tropical Cyclone Laurence at 11:00 am WST:
.Centre located near...... 18.0 degrees South 120.9 degrees East
.Location accuracy........ within 30 kilometres
.Recent movement.......... towards the southwest at 7 kilometres per hour
.Wind gusts near centre... 155 kilometres per hour
.Severity category........ 2
.Central pressure......... 980 hectoPascals
The next advice will be issued by 3:00 pm WST Sunday 20 December.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
