Tropical Cyclone Anika Moves Back over Water

The center of Tropical Cyclone Anika moved back over water on Monday night. At 10:00 p.m. EST on Monday the center of Tropical Cyclone Anika was located at latitude 16.7°S and longitude 122.5°E which put it about 85 miles (140 km) north of Broome, Australia. Anika was moving toward the west-southwest at 8 m.p.h (13 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 35 m.p.h. (55 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 45 m.p.h. (75 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 997 mb.

The center of Tropical Cyclone Anika moved back over water near Beagle Bay on Monday night. New thunderstorms began to develop near the center of Anika after the center moved back over water. The strongest thunderstorms were occurring in bands southwest of the center of circulation and northeast of the center. Bands in other parts of Tropical Cyclone Anika consisted primarily of showers and lower clouds. Storms near the center of Anika began to generated more upper level divergence.

Tropical Cyclone Anika will move around the northwestern part of a high pressure system over Australia during the next 24 hours. The high pressure system will steer Anika toward the southwest during that time period. Anika will move toward the south after it reaches the western end of the high pressure system in 24 hours. On its anticipated track Tropical Cyclone Anika could make landfall on the coast of Western Australia between Bidyadanga and De Grey in 42 hours.

Tropical Cyclone Anika will move through an environment favorable for intensification during the next 24 hours. Anika will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 30˚C. It will move through are region where the upper level winds are weak and there will be little vertical wind shear. Tropical Cyclone Anika will strengthen during the next 24 hours. However a portion of Anika’s circulation will still be over land, which will inhibit intensification.

Tropical Cyclone Anika will continue to bring gusty winds and locally heavy rain to parts of the coast of Western Australia. A Warning is in effect for the portion of the coast from Beagle Bay to Bidyadanga. The Warning includes Broome. A Watch is in effect for the portion of the coast from Bidyadanga to De Grey. Locally heavy rain could cause flash floods in some locations. Flood Watches are in effect for the Fitzroy River, the De Grey River and the Sandy Desert.

Elsewhere over the South Indian Ocean, Tropical Cyclone Vernon continued to spin east-southeast of Diego Garcia. At 10:00 p.m. EST on Sunday the center of Tropical Cyclone Vernon was located at latitude 14.6°S and longitude 87.0°E which put it about 1115 miles (1785 km) east-southeast of Diego Garcia. Vernon was moving toward the south-southwest at 4 m.p.h (6 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 994 mb.