A tropical low intensified into Tropical Cyclone Stan on Thursday and it is moving toward Western Australia.  At 10:00 p.m. EST on Thursday the center of Tropical Cyclone Stan was located at latitude 17.7°N and longitude 117.8°E which put it about 190 miles (305 km) north-northwest of Port Hedland, Australia.  Stan was moving toward the south-southeast 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 995 mb.

Tropical Cyclone Stan is not particularly well organized.  A primary rainband curves around the western side of the circulation, but there are not many thunderstorms in the eastern half of the cyclone.  Upper level divergence is occurring to the west of the center, but not to the east of the center.

The environment is marginally favorable for further intensification.  Tropical Cyclone Stan is over water where the Sea Surface Temperature is near 29°C.  However, an upper level ridge east of Stan is generating easterly winds over the top of the tropical cyclone.  The resulting vertical wind shear is inhibiting upper level divergence to the east of Stan.  The tropical cyclone is extracting enough energy from the ocean to intensify but the vertical wind shear is slowing the rate of intensification.  Tropical Cyclone Stan is expected to continue to intensify until it makes landfall.

Tropical Cyclone Stan is moving around the western end of a subtropical ridge which is steering it toward the south-southeast.  The south-southeast motion is expected to continue for another 24 to 36 hours.  On its anticipated track Tropical Cyclone Stan will make landfall on the coast of Western Australia near Port Hedland in about 24 hours.

Tropical Cyclone Stan could be near hurricane intensity when it makes landfall.  It will be capable of causing some wind damage.  Stan could also produce locally heavy rain and flooding.  It will also cause some storm surge near where the center makes landfall.