Tag Archives: Bidyaganga

Tropical Cyclone Blake Brings Wind and Rain to Western Australia

Tropical Cyclone Blake brought wind and rain to portions of Western Australia on Monday.  At 10:00 p.m. EST on Monday the center of Tropical Cyclone Blake was located at latitude 18.7°S and longitude 121.5°E which put it about 60 miles (95 km) southwest of Broome, Australia.  Blake was moving toward the south-southwest 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 989 mb.

The center of Tropical Cyclone Blake made landfall on the coast of Western Australia north of Broome earlier on Monday.  The center moved back out over water slightly north of Broome and then the center passed just to the west of that city.  A weather station in Broome measured sustained winds of 30 m.p.h. (50 km/h) and a wind gust to 50 m.p.h. (82 km/h).  5.83 inches (148 mm) of rain fell over Broome.  A rainband in the northeastern periphery of the circulation dropped rain over the area around the Kimberly Plateau during much of Monday.

Tropical Cyclone Blake weakened while the center was over land, but it appears to be strengthening again now that the center is back over water.  More thunderstorms developed near the center of circulation during the past few hours.  Those storms started to generated upper level divergence again.  Bands farther away from the center consisted primarily of showers and lower clouds.  Winds to tropical storm force extended out about 100 miles (160 km) from the center of circulation mainly in portions of circulation over water.

Tropical Cyclone Blake will move through an environment favorable for intensification during the next 12 hours.  Blake will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperature is near 29°C.  It will move through a region where the upper level winds are weak and there will be little vertical wind shear.  Tropical Cyclone Blake could strengthen during the next 12 hours.

Tropical Cyclone Blake will move around the western end of a high pressure system over Australia.  The high will steer Blake toward the south-southwest during the next 24 to 36 hours.  On its anticipated track Tropical Cyclone Blake could make another landfall on the coast of Western Australia near Wallal Downs.  A Warning is in effect for the portion of the coast from Bidyadanga to De Grey.  Blake will bring gusty winds and rain to that portion of the coast.

Elsewhere, a new Tropical Low developed over the Arafura Sea north of Australia.  At 8:00 p.m. EST on Monday the center of the Tropical Low was located at latitude 10.7°S and longitude 137.7°E which put it about 120 miles (195 km) north-northeast of Nhulunbuy, Australia.  The Tropical Low was moving toward the east at 6 m.p.h. (9 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 back toward the west and to strengthen.  A Watch has been issued for the portion of the Australian coast from Cape Shield to Cape Don including Goulburn Island.  On its anticipated track the center of the Tropical Low could pass near Cape Wessel in about 24 hours.