Tropical Cyclone Taliah formed over the South Indian Ocean northwest of Australia on Sunday. At 4:00 a.m. EST on Sunday the center of Tropical Cyclone Taliah was located at latitude 14.6°S and longitude 115.8°E which put the center about 445 miles (720 km) north of Karratha, Australia. Taliah was moving toward the west at 7 m.p.h. (11 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 50 m.p.h. (80 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 65 m.p.h. (105 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 988 mb.
A low pressure system over the South Indian Ocean northwest of Australia strengthened on Sunday and the Australian Bureau of Meteorology designated the system as Tropical Cyclone Taliah. The circulation around Tropical Cyclone Taliah was organizing rapidly. The inner end of a rainband wrapped around the center of Taliah’s circulation and an eye appeared to be forming at the center of Taliah. The strongest wind were occurring in the part of the rainband around the center of circulation. Storms near the center of Taliah generated upper level divergence that pumped mass away from the tropical cyclone. The removal of mass caused the surface pressure to decrease.
The circulation around Tropical Cyclone Taliah was fairly large. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 160 miles (260 km) from the center of Taliah’s circulation.
Tropical Cyclone Taliah will move through an environment very favorable for intensification during the next 24 hours. Taliah will move over water where where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 30°C. It will move under the axis of an upper level ridge west of Australia. The upper level winds are weak near the axis of the ridge and there will be little vertical wind shear. Tropical Cyclone Taliah will intensify during the next 24 hours. Taliah is likely to intensify rapidly to the equivalent of a hurricane/typhoon.
Tropical Cyclone Taliah will move around the northern side of a high pressure system that extends from Australia to the South Indian Ocean. The high pressure system will steer Talia toward the west during the next 24 hours. On its anticipated track, Tropical Cyclone Taliah will move farther away from Western Australia.