Tag Archives: Tropical Cyclone Joyce

Tropical Cyclone Berguitta Strengthens Over South Indian Ocean

Tropical Cyclone Berguitta strengthened over the South Indian Ocean on Saturday.  At 10:00 p.m. EST on Saturday the center of Tropical Cyclone Berguitta was located at latitude 18.2°S and longitude 63.3°E which put it about 420 miles (675 km) east-northeast of Port Louis, Mauritius.  Berguitta was moving toward the west at 5 m.p.h. (8 km/h).  The maximum sustained wind speed was 60 m.p.h. (95 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 75 m.p.h. (120 km/h).  The minimum surface pressure was 994 mb.

The structure of Tropical Cyclone Berguitta organized quickly on Saturday.  An eye appeared on microwave satellite images of the center of circulation.  An elliptical ring of showers and thunderstorms surrounded the eye.  Several bands of showers and thunderstorms were revolving around the core of Tropical Cyclone Berguitta.  There were more thunderstorms south and east of the center of circulation.  Storms near the core of Berguitta were generating upper level divergence which was pumping away mass.  The removal of mass allowed the surface pressure to decrease and the winds speeds to increase.

Tropical Cyclone Berguitta will be moving through an environment favorable for intensification during the next several days.  Berguitta will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperature is near 28°C.  It will move through an area where the upper level winds are weak and there is little vertical wind shear.  Tropical Cyclone Berguitta will likely intensify into the equivalent of a hurricane/typhoon during the next 24 hours.  It could intensify more rapidly once the eye and inner core become fully organized.

A subtropical ridge south of Berguitta is steering the tropical cyclone slowly toward the west.  A general motion toward the west is expected during the next day or two.  In about 48 hours Tropical Cyclone Berguitta will be closer to the western end of the ridge and it could start to move more toward the southwest.  On its anticipated track Tropical Cyclone Berguitta could approach Mauritius and La Reunion in three or four days.  Berguitta could be the equivalent of a hurricane/typhoon at that time.

Elsewhere in the southern hemisphere former Tropical Cyclone Joyce continued to drop locally heavy rain over parts of Western Australia.  At 10:00 p.m. EST on Saturday the center of former Tropical Cyclone Joyce was located at latitude 25.4°S and longitude 115.6°E which put it about 35 miles (55 km) southeast of Gascoyne Junction.  Former Tropical Cyclone Joyce was moving toward the west-southwest at 8 m.p.h. (13 km/h).  The maximum sustained wind speed was 30 m.p.h. (50 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 40 m.p.h. (65 km/h).  The minimum surface pressure was 998 mb.  The locally heavy rain was creating the potential for flooding in some locations.

Tropical Cyclone Joyce Brings Wind and Rain to Western Australia

Tropical Cyclone Joyce brought wind and rain to Western Australia on Thursday.  At 10:00 p.m. EST on Thursday the center of Tropical Cyclone Joyce was located at latitude 19.6°S and longitude 120.9°E which put it about 20 miles (35 km) northeast of Wallal Downs, Australia.  Joyce was moving toward the southwest at 7 m.p.h. (11 km/h).  The maximum sustained wind speed was 45 m.p.h. (75 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 60 m.p.h. (95 km/h).  The minimum surface pressure was 989 mb.

The center of Tropical Cyclone Joyce moved along the coast of Western Australia from Bidyadanga toward Wallal Downs on Thursday.  Tropical Cyclone Joyce brought gusty winds up to 60 m.p.h. (95 km/h) to portions of the coast.  The fact that almost half the circulation of Joyce was flowing over land kept the tropical cyclone from intensifying significantly.  Several bands of showers and thunderstorms were occurring in the southwestern half of the circulation.  Fewer showers and thunderstorms were in the northeastern half of Tropical Cyclone Joyce, except for a couple of small bands in the periphery of the circulation near Cape Leveque.

Tropical Cyclone Joyce is being steered toward the southwest by a subtropical ridge and that motion is expected to continue for several more days.  On its anticipated track the center of Joyce will move inland near Wallal Downs.  It will continue inland on Friday and the center will pass near Shay Gap and Marble Bar.  A Tropical Cyclone Warning is in effect for the portion of the coast from Bidyadanga to De Grey.  Tropical Cyclone Joyce will gradually weaken when it moves inland, but it will continue to drop locally heavy rain over parts of Western Australia when it moves inland.  The Australian Bureau of Meteorology has issued Flood Warnings and Watches for portions of Western Australia.

Tropical Cyclone Joyce Develops Near Western Australia

Tropical Cyclone Joyce developed near Western Australia on Wednesday when a Tropical Low moved over the South Indian Ocean.  At 10:00 p.m. EST on Wednesday the center of Tropical Cyclone Joyce was located near latitude 17.0°S and longitude 121.6°E which put it about 80 miles (125 km) north-northwest of Broome, Australia.  Joyce was moving toward the south-southwest at 5 m.p.h. (7 km/h).  The maximum sustained wind speed was 40 m.p.h. (65 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 50 m.p.h. (80 km/h).  The minimum surface pressure was 990 mb.

A Tropical Low moved from Western Australia off the coast and over the warm water of the South Indian Ocean on Wednesday.  The circulation of the system organized after the center moved over water and the inner core became more well developed.  The Australian Bureau of Meteorology designated the system as Tropical Cyclone Joyce.  A Tropical Cyclone Warning was issued for the portion of the coast from Cape Leveque to De Grey including Broome and adjacent inland parts of Western Australia.  A Tropical Cyclone Watch was issued for the portion of the coast from De Grey to Dampier including Port Headland, Karratha and adjacent inland areas.

The circulation of Tropical Cyclone Joyce exhibited the classical appearance of an organizing tropical cyclone on Wednesday.  There was a well defined low level center of circulation.  Numerous bands of showers and thunderstorms were revolving around the center of circulation.  Storms in the core of Joyce were generating upper level divergence which was pumping mass away from the tropical cyclone.

Tropical Cyclone Joyce will be moving through an environment favorable for intensification during the next day or so.  Joyce will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperature is near 30°C.  The upper level winds are weak and there is little vertical wind shear.  Warm water and little vertical wind shear will allow Joyce to strengthen and it could intensify rapidly.  Tropical Cyclone Joyce is forecast to strengthen into the equivalent of a hurricane/typhoon during the next 36 hours.

Tropical Cyclone Joyce is moving around the western end of a subtropical ridge which is steering Joyce toward the south-southwest.  The ridge is forecast to steer Joyce in a general southwesterly direction during the next several days.   On its anticipated track the center of Tropical Cyclone Joyce could make landfall on the coast of western Australia between Wallal Downs and De Grey in about 36 hours.