An eye appears to be forming in the center of Tropical Cyclone Olwyn and it is near hurricane intensity.  At 11:00 p.m. EDT on Wednesday the center of Tropical Cyclone Olwyn was located at latitude 18.5°S and longitude 114.8°E which put it about 210 miles northwest of Karratha and about 250 miles north-northeast of Exmouth, Australia.  Olwyn was moving toward the south-southwest at 9 m.p.h.  The maximum sustained wind speed was 70 m.p.h. and there were gusts to 90 m.p.h.  The minimum surface pressure was 978 mb.

The circulation around Olwyn became increasingly well organized on Wednesday and and eye appeared to develop.  The stronger thunderstorms are on the western side of the eye and the circulation could be pulling in a little drier air on the eastern side.  Olwyn is over warm Sea Surface Temperatures and the upper level winds are light.  So, further intensification is possible before Olwyn makes landfall.

A subtropical ridge is steering Olwyn in a generally southerly direction and that steering pattern is expected to continue.  The projected track brings the center of Olwyn near Exmouth on the coast of Western Australia in about 18 to 24 hours.  Owlyn has the potential to bring strong winds and a significant storm surge near the point of landfall.  In addition it could bring locally heavy rainfall and the potential for floods as it moves inland.