Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology
Northern Territory
Tropical Cyclone Warning Centre
Media: The Standard Emergency Warning Signal should NOT be used with this warning.
TOP PRIORITY FOR IMMEDIATE BROADCAST
TROPICAL CYCLONE WARNING
TROPICAL CYCLONE ADVICE NUMBER 12
Issued at 10:55 am ACST [9:25 am AWST] on Sunday 05 March 2017
Headline:
Tropical has formed just south of the Tiwi Islands.
Areas Affected:
Warning Zone
Mitchell Plateau to Point Stuart, including Darwin and Wadeye, and Cape Don to Cape Fourcroy.
Watch Zone
Cockatoo Island to Mitchell Plateau
Cancelled Zone
None.
Details of Tropical Cyclone Blanche at 9:30 am ACST [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 55 kilometres of 11.9 degrees South 130.3 degrees East, estimated to be 85 kilometres northwest of Darwin and 275 kilometres north northeast of Wadeye.
Movement: southwest at 12 kilometres per hour.
Tropical Cyclone Blanch has formed just south of the Tiwi Islands. The system is expected to continue tracking to the southwest and intensify further, crossing the north Kimberley coast later on Monday as a Category 2 system.
Hazards:
GALES with gusts to 110 kilometres per hour may develop about the Tiwi Islands briefly this morning as Tropical Cyclone Blanche continues to develop and move southwest. GALES may develop between Point Stuart and Daly River Mouth, including Darwin from early this afternoon, and extend along the west coast of the Territory, including Wadeye (Port Keats), and west to Mitchell Plateau in Western Australia early on Monday.
GALES may develop between Mitchell Plateau and Cockatoo Island in Western Australia later on Monday or Tuesday morning.
Tides will be HIGHER THAN NORMAL between Point Stuart in the NT and Kuri Bay in WA today and Monday. Large waves may produce MINOR FLOODING of low-lying coastal areas.
HEAVY RAIN and SQUALLS are likely to continue over the Tiwi Islands and western Top End and to the Kimberley region tonight or Monday.
DAMAGING WIND GUSTS are possible in squally showers and storms across the western Top End during the next day or two.
Recommended Action:
NTES advises residents from Cape Fourcroy to Cape Don and Point Stuart to Daly River Mouth, including Darwin:
- Take shelter as condition deteriorate
- Consider your need to travel
- Avoid driving into flooded crossings
- Be alert for localised flooding and move away from flood waters if necessary
NTES advises residents from Daly River Mouth to Wadeye, including Wadeye:
- Make final preparations to home shelter and take shelter as gales arrive
- do not move to public shelters or strong buildings until advised by authorities
NTES advises residents from Wadeye to the NT/WA border:
- Your emergency kit should now be complete and ready
- Finalise home shelter preparations, or know now where you will shelter
- Do not move to shelter until advised by local authorities
DFES State Emergency Service (SES) advises of the following community alerts:
BLUE ALERT: People between WA/NT border to Kuri Bay, including Wyndham, Kununurra and Kalumburu need to prepare for cyclonic weather and organise an emergency kit including first aid kit, torch, portable radio, spare batteries, food and water.
Further advice on cyclone emergencies is available at
http://www.securent.nt.gov.auPlease ensure that friends, family and neighbours have heard and understood this message, particularly new arrivals to the area.
Next Advice:
The next advice will be issued by 2:00 pm ACST Sunday 05 March [12:30 pm AWST Sunday 05 March].