TOP PRIORITY
TROPICAL CYCLONE ADVICE NUMBER 15
Issued by the Bureau of Meteorology, Brisbane
Issued at 2:23pm on Monday the 7th of February 2005
A Cyclone WARNING is current for coastal and island communities between Karumba
in Queensland and Port McArthur in the Northern Territory.
At 2:00 pm EST [1:30 pm CST] SEVERE TROPICAL CYCLONE Harvey, category 3, with
central pressure 970 hPa, was centred near latitude 16.2 south longitude 138.2
east, which is about 125 km north northeast of Wollogorang in the Northern
Territory and 120 km west northwest of Mornington Island in Queensland. The
cyclone has recently been moving towards the southwest at 15 km/hr.
SEVERE TROPICAL CYCLONE Harvey is expected to continue moving towards the coast
and continue to strengthen. Very destructive winds should be experienced on the
coast near the NT and QLD border within the next few hours, and destructive
winds could extend inland to settlements such as Wollogorang by early this
evening. Gales are expected on Mornington Island, and to develop about other
coastal and island communities between Karumba and Port McArthur later in the
day.
Residents between [and including] Wollogorang in the Northern Territory and
Mornington Island are specifically warned of the dangerous storm tide as the
cyclone approaches the island. The sea is likely to rise steadily up to a level
significantly above the normal tide with strong currents and flooding of low
lying areas extending some way inland. Along the exposed northwest coast,
damaging waves will also contribute to the flooding. People living in areas
likely to be affected by this flooding should take measures to protect their
property as much as possible.
Dangerous storm tides are also expected elsewhere around the eastern and
southern Gulf coastline, particularly between Burketown and Karumba.
Details of SEVERE TROPICAL CYCLONE, Category 3, for 2:00 pm EST / 1:30 pm CST
Central Pressure : 970 Hectopascals
Location of Centre : within 30 kilometres of
latitude 16.2 degrees south
longitude 138.2 degrees east
about 110 kilometres west northwest of Mornington Island
Recent Movement : towards the southwest at 15 km/hr.
Destructive winds : out to 60 kilometres from the centre
Very destructive winds: out to 20 kilometres from the centre.
Maximum wind gusts : 190 kilometres per hour, intensifying.
People between Port McArthur in the Northern Territory and Karumba in Queensland
should take precautions and listen to the next advice at 4 pm EST [3:30 pm CST]
If you are unsure about precautions to be taken, information is available from
your local government or local State Emergency Service.
The next advice will be issued at 3 pm EST [2:30 pm CST]