Source: Bureau of Meteorology

Issued at 8:50 am WST on Thursday 21 January 2021

Headline:
Tropical low (08U) expected to develop into a tropical cyclone and impact the east Pilbara and west Kimberley coast from Friday afternoon.

Areas Affected:
Warning Zone
None.

Watch Zone
Beagle Bay to Whim Creek, including Port Hedland and Broome, and extending inland in the east Pilbara to include Telfer.

Cancelled Zone
None.

Details of Tropical Low at 8:00 am AWST:
Intensity: Tropical Low, sustained winds near the centre of 55 kilometres per hour with wind gusts to 85 kilometres per hour.

Location: within 75 kilometres of 15.0 degrees South 120.6 degrees East, estimated to be 375 kilometres north northwest of Broome and 630 kilometres north northeast of Port Hedland.

Movement: southwest at 14 kilometres per hour.

Tropical low (08U) is moving towards the southwest and is expected to gradually intensify during Thursday and Friday as it turns southwards and approaches the east Pilbara coast.

Hazards:
GALES may develop on the coast near Bidyadanga and Broome during Friday afternoon and may extend to other parts of the Watch area during Friday evening. Areas between Broome and Port Hedland have the highest risk of gales.

DESTRUCTIVE WINDS with gusts to 140 kilometres per hour may develop overnight Friday or early Saturday as the system nears the coast.

Heavy rainfall combined with strong winds may develop along the west Kimberley coast during Thursday evening, before extending to coastal areas of the Pilbara east of Port Hedland during Friday morning, and extending inland east of Port Hedland during Friday evening. Heavy rainfall is not expected west of Port Hedland.

Recommended Action:
DFES advises of the following community alerts:

BLUE ALERT: People in communities between Beagle Bay and Whim Creek including Broome and Port Hedland, need to prepare for cyclonic weather and organise an emergency kit including first aid kit, torch, portable radio, spare batteries, food and water.

Current Tropical Cyclones