Tag Archives: Broome

Tropical Low Forms Over Western Australia

A Tropical Low formed over Western Australia on Monday and a Tropical Cyclone Watch was issued for a portion of the coast.  At 2:00 p.m. EST on Monday the center of the Tropical Low was located at latitude 15.9°S and longitude 126.1°E which put it about 135 miles (220 km) west-southwest of Wyndham, Australia.  It was moving toward the southwest a 8 m.p.h. (13 km/h).  The maximum sustained wind speed was 20 m.p.h. (30 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 50 m.p.h. (85 km/h).  The minimum surface pressure was 1005 mb.  The Australia Bureau of Meteorology has issued a Tropical Cyclone Watch for the portion of the coast of Western Australia from Kuri Bay to Wallal Downs including Broome.

The circulation of the Tropical Low is still organizing.  There is a broad low level center of circulation, but there are not many showers and thunderstorms near the center.  There are numerous bands of showers and storms developing in bands on the eastern and western peripheries of the circulation.  The strongest wind gusts are occurring in those storms.  The lack of storms near the center of circulation is keeping the system from generating much upper level divergence.

The core of the Tropical Low is likely to remain over land for another 12-24 hours, which will inhibit the organization of the circulation.  When the center moves off the coast and over the South Indian Ocean, it will move into an environment favorable for intensification.  The Sea Surface Temperature of the water west of the coast of Western Australia is near 30°C.  The Tropical Low is moving north of the axis of a subtropical ridge.  The ridge is producing easterly winds which are blowing toward the top of the circulation, but there is not a lot of vertical wind shear.  The Tropical Low is likely to strengthen when it moves over water and it could intensify rapidly if a more concentrated center of circulation develops.

A subtropical ridge is current steering the Tropical Low toward the southwest, but a general motion toward the west-southwest is expected during the next 24 to 48 hours.  The Tropical Low will reach the western end of the ridge in about two days and then it will turn more toward the south.  On its anticipated track the center of the Tropical Low is expected to move off the coast between Kuri Bay and Derby on Tuesday.  The center is forecast to pass near Cape Leveque and then turn south toward Wallal Downs.

Elsewhere over the South Indian Ocean, Tropical Cyclone Ava continued to swirl near southern Madagascar and stronger Tropical Cyclone Irving was passing well to the south of Diego Garcia.  At 4:00 p.m. EST on Monday the center of Tropical Storm Ava was located at latitude 27.7°S and longitude 46.8°E which put it about 180 miles (295 km) south of Farodofay, Madagascar.  Ava was moving toward the west-southwest at 17 m.p.h. (27 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 994 mb.

At 4:00 p.m. EST on Monday the center of Tropical Cyclone Irving was centered at latitude 19.6°S and longitude 76.1°E which put it about 875 miles (1415 km) south-southeast of Diego Garcia.  Irving was moving toward the west-southwest at 18 m.p.h. (29 km/h).  The maximum sustained wind speed was 105 m.p.h. (170 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 125 m.p.h. (205 km/h).  The minimum surface pressure was 960 mb.  Tropical Cyclone Irving was the equivalent of a Category 2 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Scale.

Tropical Cyclone Hilda Develops on Coast of Western Australia

A Tropical Low near the coast of Western Australia strengthened and the Australian Bureau of Meteorology designated the system as Tropical Cyclone Hilda. At 10:00 a.m. EST on Wednesday the center of Tropical Cyclone Hilda was located at latitude 18.0°S and longitude 122.1°E which put it about 10 miles (15 km) west-southwest of Broome, Australia.  Hilda was moving toward the south-southwest at 8 m.p.h. (12 km/h).  The maximum sustained wind speed was 50 m.p.h. (85 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 85 m.p.h. (140 km/h).  The minimum surface pressure was 985 mb.  Broome Port reported a wind gust to 86 m.p.h. (139 km/h).

The center of the Tropical Low moved off the coast of Western Australia and the core of the circulation strengthened.  Thunderstorms in the core of Tropical Cyclone Hilda generated strong upper level divergence which pumped mass away from the center of circulation.  The removal of mass allowed the surface pressure to decrease quickly and the wind speeds increased.  The strongest winds were occurring over water near the center of circulation.  Additional bands of showers and thunderstorms were revolving around the core of the circulation.  Hilda is a small tropical cyclone.  Winds to tropical storm force only extend out about 35 miles (55 km) from the center of circulation.

Tropical Cyclone Hilda will be moving through an environment that will support further intensification during the next 12 hours.  The Sea Surface Temperature of the water near the coast of Western Australia is near 30°C.  Tropical Cyclone Hilda is underneath an upper level ridge and the upper level winds are weak.  There is little vertical wind shear.  The proximity to land is the only factor preventing rapid intensification of Tropical Cyclone Hilda.  Almost half of the circulation is over land and the increased friction is reducing the wind speeds in that part of Tropical Cyclone Hilda.

Tropical Cyclone Hilda is moving around the western end of a subtropical ridge, which is steering the tropical cyclone toward the south-southwest.  A general motion toward the south-southwest is expected to continue for another 12 to 24 hours.  On its anticipated track the center of Tropical Cyclone Hilda could pass near Bidyadanga during the next 6 to 12 hours.  Hilda will bring gusty winds capable of producing localized minor wind damage.  A Warning is in effect for the portion of the coast from Beagle Bay to Pardoo Roadhouse.  The core of Tropical Cyclone Hilda will drop locally heavy rain near the coast of Western Australia and flash flooding is possible.

Tropical Low Develops Near Coast of Western Australia

A distinct low level center of circulation developed in an area of thunderstorms near the coast of Western Australia on Tuesday and the Australian Bureau of Meteorology classified the system as a Tropical Low.  At 10:00 p.m. EST on Tuesday the center of the Tropical Low as located at latitude 17.2°N and 122.3°E which put it just inland east of Coulomb Point and about 55 miles (85 km) north of Broome, Australia.  The Tropical Low was moving toward the 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 gusts to 45 m.p.h. (75 km/h).  The minimum surface pressure was 998 mb.

Although the center of circulation was over land, the circulation of the Tropical Low became much better organized on Tuesday.  There was a well defined center of circulation and weather radar images indicated an eyelike feature at the center of the Tropical Low.  Several bands of showers and thunderstorms wrapped around the center of circulation.  Storms in the core of the Tropical Low were generating well developed upper level divergence which was pumping mass away in all directions.

The Tropical Low will move through an environment favorable for intensification during the next 24 to 36 hours.  The Sea Surface Temperature of the water off the coast of Western Australia is near 30°C.  The Tropical Low is underneath an upper level ridge and the upper level winds are not very strong.  There is little vertical wind shear.  The only factor inhibiting intensification is the fact that the center is still inland over Western Australia.  If the center moves over water as is forecast, the Tropical Low will intensify and it could intensify rapidly.

The Tropical Low is moving around the western end of a mid-level ridge which is steering it toward the southwest.  The ridge is forecast to steer the Tropical Low toward the southwest for another 12 to 24 hours.  When the Tropical Low reaches the western end of the ridge, it will move more toward the south.  On its anticipated track the center of the Tropical Low will move off the coast of Western Australia and over water during the next 6 to 12 hours.  The center of the Tropical Low is expected to pass west of Broome.  The Tropical Low could approach the coast of Western Australia between Bidyadanga and Wallal Downs in about 36 hours.

The Tropical Low will drop heavy rain along the coast of Western Australia during the next 48 hours.  It will also bring gusty winds and a Warning has been issued for the portion of the coast from Cape Leveque to De Grey.