Tag Archives: Bedout Island

Tropical Cyclone Ilsa Hits Western Australia

The center of Tropical Cyclone Ilsa hit the coast of Western Australia just to the east of Pardoo Roadhouse on Thursday. At 11:00 a.m. EDT on Thursday the center of Tropical Cyclone Ilsa was located at latitude 19.9°S and longitude 119.7°E which put it about 10 miles (15 km) northeast of Pardoo Roadhouse, Australia. Ilsa was moving toward the southeast at 15 m.p.h. (24 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 150 m.p.h. (240 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 185 m.p.h. (295 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 926 mb.

A Tropical Cyclone Warning was in effect for the coast of Western Australia from Bidyadanga to Port Hedland. The Tropical Cyclone Warning extended inland to include De Grey, Marble Bar, Nullagine, Telfer, Parnngurr and Kunawarritji.

Tropical Cyclone Ilsa was the equivalent of a Category 4 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Scale at the time of landfall. A very small circular eye was present at the center of Ilsa’s circulation. The eye was surrounded by a ring of strong thunderstorms and the strongest winds were occurring in that ring of storms. Bands of showers and thunderstorms were revolving around the core of Tropical Cyclone Ilsa. Storms near the core generated strong upper level divergence that pumped large quantities of mass away from the tropical cyclone.

A weather station at Bedout Island measured a sustained wind speed of 135 m.p.h. (218 km/h) when the western side of the eyewall of Tropical Cyclone Ilsa passed over it. The weather station also measured a wind gust of 178 m.p.h. (288 km/h).

Winds to hurricane/typhoon force extended out 45 miles (75 km) from the center of Tropical Cyclone Ilsa at the time of landfall. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 140 miles (225 km) from the center. The Hurricane Intensity Index (HII) for Tropical Cyclone Ilsa was 31.6. The Hurricane Size Index (HSI) was 17.6 and the Hurricane Wind Intensity Size Index (HWISI) was 49.2. Tropical Cyclone Ilsa was similar in size and intensity to Hurricane Laura when Laura hit southwest Louisiana in 2020.

Tropical Cyclone Ilsa will move around the southern side of a high pressure system over northern Australia. The high pressure system will steer Ilsa toward the east-southeast during the next 24 hours. On its anticipated track, the center of Tropical Cyclone Ilsa will pass near Telfer and Kiwirrkurra.

Although Tropical Cyclone Ilsa will weaken as it moves farther inland over Western Australia, it will take a while to spin down. Ilsa will bring strong winds and locally heavy rain to Western Australia. The strong winds will be capable of causing regional severe damage. Ilsa could also produce strong winds in De Grey and Telfer when it moves inland. Heavy rain could cause flash floods in some locations. Flood Warnings are in effect for the De Grey River and the Sandy Desert. Flood Watches are in effect for the West Kimberley, Western Desert, Warburton and Salt Lake Districts. Tropical Cyclone Ilsa could bring gusty winds to Kiwirrkurra during Friday.

Tropical Cyclone Blake Makes Another Landfall in Western Australia

Tropical Cyclone Blake made another landfall on the coast of Western Australia on Tuesday.  At 4:00 p.m. EST on Tuesday the center of Tropical Cyclone Blake was located at latitude 20.1°S and longitude 120.5°E which put it about 20 miles (35 km) south-southwest of Wallal Downs, Australia.  Blake was moving toward the southwest at 6 m.p.h. (10 km/h).  The maximum sustained wind speed was 45 m.p.h. (75 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 55 m.p.h. (90 km/h).  The minimum surface pressure was 990 mb.

The center of Tropical Cyclone Blake moved across the coast of Western Australia just to the west of Wallal Downs on Tuesday.  Blake was beginning to weaken, but winds to tropical storm force were still occurring in the northwestern part of the circulation that was still over water.  A weather station at Bedout Island which is just off the coast of Western Australia was reporting a sustained wind speed of 43 m.p.h. (69 km/h) and wind gusts to 50 m.p.h. (82 km/h).  A weather station in Mandora, Australia had already received 2.69 inches (64.4 mm) of rain from the rainbands in eastern side of the tropical cyclone.

Tropical Cyclone Blake will move around the western end of a high pressure system over Australia.  Blake will move more toward the south when it reaches the western end of the high.  On its anticipated track the center of Tropical Cyclone Blake could be near Marble Bar in about 12 hours.  Blake could approach Newman in about 24 hours.  Tropical Cyclone Blake will weaken as it moves farther inland.  Blake could drop locally heavy rain over parts of Western Australia and the potential for flash floods exists.

Elsewhere, a Tropical Low was slowly organizing over the Arafura Sea north of Australia.  At 1:00 p.m. EST on Tuesday the center of the Tropical Low was located at latitude 11.2°S and longitude 137.7°E which put it about 70 miles (115 km) north-northeast of Nhulunbuy, Australia.  The Tropical Low was moving toward the west at 3 m.p.h. (5 km/h).  The maximum sustained wind speed was 30 m.p.h. (50 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 40 m.p.h. (65 km/h).  The minimum surface pressure was 1003 mb.  The Tropical Low is forecast to move westward and to strengthen.  A Watch has been issued for the portions of the coast from Cape Don to Point Stuart and from Goulburn Island to Cape Shield.