Stronger Tropical Cyclone Kelvin Makes Landfall in Western Australia

A stronger Tropical Cyclone Kelvin made landfall on the coast of Western Australia near Anna Plains on Saturday night.  At 10:00 p.m. EST on Saturday the center of Tropical Cyclone Kelvin was located at latitude 19.4°S and longitude 121.9°E which put it about 60 miles (95 km) east-northeast of Sandfire, Australia.  Kelvin was moving toward the east-southeast at 8 m.p.h. (13 km/h).  The maximum sustained wind speed was 75 m.p.h. (120 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 95 m.p.h. (155 km/h).  The minimum surface pressure was 975 mb.  The Australian Bureau of Meteorology issued a Warning for the portion of the coast from Broome to Wallal Downs and the Warning extends inland to include Telfer.

Tropical Cyclone Kelvin intensified very rapidly before it made landfall on the coast of Western Australia.  Kelvin strengthened in a few hours from a minimal tropical storm to the equivalent of a hurricane/typhoon.  A small circular eye developed at the center of circulation.  The eye was surrounded by a ring of strong thunderstorms and the strongest winds were occurring in the ring of storms.  Bands of showers and thunderstorms were revolving around the core of the circulation.  Kelvin was a small tropical cyclone.  Winds to tropical storm force only extended out about 60 miles (95 km) from the center of circulation.

Tropical Cyclone Kelvin intensified enough to be capable of causing wind damage, but locally heavy rain is the greater risk.  The small size of Kelvin will limit the area of heavy rain, but there could be enough rain in some areas to create the potential for floods.  The Australian Bureau of Meteorology issued Flood Warnings for the North Kimberly District, the West Kimberly District, and the Sandy Desert.  Flood Watches were issued for the De Grey Rivers and the Salt Lake District Rivers.  Tropical Cyclone Kelvin will weaken as it moves farther inland, but Kelvin will take longer to spin down because it strengthened so much before landfall.