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Tropical Cyclone Dianne Brings Wind and Rain to Western Australia

Tropical Cyclone Dianne brought wind and rain to Western Australia on Friday.  At 5:00 p.m. EDT on Friday the center of Tropical Cyclone Dianne was located at latitude 16.6°S and longitude 123.8°E which put the center about 75 miles (120 km) north-northeast of the Derby, Australia.  Dianne was moving toward the south at 8 m.p.h. (13 km/h).  The maximum sustained wind speed was 50 m.p.h. (80 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 65 m.p.h. (105 km/h).  The minimum surface pressure was 991 mb.

A Warning is in effect for the portion of the coast between Kuri Bay and Derby.

The center of Tropical Cyclone Dianne made landfall on the coast of Western Australia north-northeast of Derby.  Dianne was the equivalent of a tropical storm at the time of landfall.  The circulation around Tropical Cyclone Dianne was small.  Winds to tropical storm force only extended out 65 miles (105 km) from the center of Dianne’s circulation.

Tropical Cyclone Dianne will move around the western end of a high pressure system over northern Australia.  The high pressure system will steer Dianne toward the south during the next 24 hours.  On its anticipated track, Tropical Cyclone Dianne will move inland over Western Australia during the next 24 hours.

Tropical Cyclone Dianne will bring strong winds and locally heavy rain to parts of Western Australia.  Heavy rain could cause flash floods in some locations.

Flood Watches are in effect for the Tanami Desert, the Western Desert and the Sandy Desert.

Elsewhere over the South Indian Ocean, Tropical Cyclone Courtney intensified to the equivalent of a major hurricane southwest of the Cocos Islands.  At 5:00 p.m. EDT on Friday the center of Tropical Cyclone Courtney was located at latitude 17.6°S and longitude 92.5°E which put the center about 445 miles (715 km) southwest of the Cocos Islands.  Courtney was moving toward the west-southwest at 18 m.p.h. (30 km/h).  The maximum sustained wind speed was 130 m.p.h. (210 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 160 m.p.h. (260 km/h).  The minimum surface pressure was 948 mb.

Tropical Cyclone Dianne Nears Western Australia

Tropical Cyclone Dianne neared the coast of Western Australia on Friday morning.  At 5:00 a.m. EDT on Friday the center of Tropical Cyclone Dianne was located at latitude 15.3°S and longitude 123.6°E which put the center about 140 miles (225 km) north of the Derby, Australia.  Dianne was moving toward the south-southeast at 10 m.p.h. (16 km/h).  The maximum sustained wind speed was 50 m.p.h. (80 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 65 m.p.h. (105 km/h).  The minimum surface pressure was 991 mb.

A Warning is in effect for the area between Kuri Bay and Derby.

A Tropical Low strengthened to Tropical Cyclone Dianne near the coast of Western Australia during Thursday night.  More thunderstorms formed near the center of Tropical Cyclone Dianne.  More thunderstorms also formed in bands revolving around the center of Dianne’s circulation.  Storms near the center of Dianne generated more upper level divergence that pumped mass away from the tropical cyclone.  The removal of more mass caused the surface pressure to decrease.

The circulation around Tropical Cyclone Dianne was small.  Winds to tropical storm force extended out 90 miles (145 km) from the center of Dianne’s circulation.

Tropical Cyclone Dianne will move through an environment somewhat favorable for intensification during the next few hours.  Dianne will move over water where where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 29°C.  It will move under the northern part of an upper level ridge that extends from over Australia to the South Indian Ocean.  The upper level ridge will produce easterly winds that will blow toward the top of the Tropical Low.  Those winds will cause some vertical wind shear.  The vertical wind shear will inhibit intensification, but the wind shear may not be enough to prevent intensification.  Dianne could intensify during the next few hours.

Tropical Cyclone Dianne will move around the western end of a high pressure system over northern Australia.  The high pressure system will steer Dianne toward the southeast during the next 24 hours.  On its anticipated track, Tropical Cyclone Dianne will make landfall on the coast of Western Australia northeast of Derby in a few hours.

Tropical Cyclone Dianne will bring strong winds and locally heavy rain to parts of Western Australia.  Heavy rain could cause flash floods in some locations.

Flood Watches are in effect for the Tanami Desert, the Western Desert and the Sandy Desert.

Elsewhere over the South Indian Ocean, Tropical Cyclone Courtney passed south of the Cocos Islands.  At 5:00 a.m. EDT on Friday the center of Tropical Cyclone Courtney was located at latitude 16.9°S and longitude 94.9°E which put the center about 330 miles (530 km) south-southwest of the Cocos Islands.  Courtney was moving toward the west at 18 m.p.h. (30 km/h).  The maximum sustained wind speed was 90 m.p.h. (145 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 115 m.p.h. (185 km/h).  The minimum surface pressure was 972 mb.

Tropical Low Prompts Watch for Western Australia

A risk posed by a Tropical Low prompted the Australian Bureau of Meteorology to issue a Watch for a portion of the coast of Western Australia on Thursday.  At 5:00 a.m. EDT on Thursday the center of the Tropical Low was located at latitude 13.8°S and longitude 121.8°E which put the center about 215 miles (350 km) west-northwest of the Kuri Bay, Australia.  The Tropical Low was moving toward the east-northeast at 5 m.p.h. (7 km/h).  The maximum sustained wind speed was 35 m.p.h. (55 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 45 m.p.h. (75 km/h).  The minimum surface pressure was 997 mb.

A Watch is in effect for the portion of the coast of Western Australia from Mitchell Plateau to Beagle Bay.  The Watch includes Derby and Beagle Bay.

A low pressure system over the South Indian Ocean west of Australia exhibited more organization on Thursday morning and the Australian Bureau of Meteorology classified the system as a Tropical Low.  The U.S. Joint Typhoon Warning Center designated the low pressure system as Invest 93S.

The distribution of thunderstorms in the Tropical Low was asymmetrical.  Thunderstorms were occurring in bands in the western side of the Tropical Low.  Bands in the eastern side of the Tropical Low consisted primarily of showers and lower clouds.  Storms near the center of circulation generated upper level divergence that pumped mass away to the west of the Tropical Low.  The removal of mass caused the surface pressure to decrease slowly.

The Tropical Low will move through an environment somewhat favorable for intensification during the next 24 hours.  The Tropical Low will move over water where where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 29°C.  It will move under the northern part of an upper level ridge that extends from over Australia to the South Indian Ocean.  The upper level ridge will produce easterly winds that will blow toward the top of the Tropical Low.  Those winds will cause moderate vertical wind shear.  The moderate vertical wind shear will inhibit intensification, but the wind shear may not be enough to prevent intensification.  The Tropical Low could intensify during the next 24 hours.

The Tropical Low will move around the western end of a high pressure system over northern Australia.  The high pressure system will steer the Tropical Low toward the southeast during the next 24 hours.  On its anticipated track, the Tropical Low will make landfall on the coast of Western Australia between Kuri Bay and Derby in 36 hours.

The Tropical Low will bring strong winds and locally heavy rain to parts of Western Australia.  Heavy rain could cause flash floods in some locations.

Elsewhere over the South Indian Ocean, Tropical Cyclone Courtney continued to strengthen south-southeast of the Cocos Islands.  At 5:00 a.m. EDT on Thursday the center of Tropical Cyclone Courtney was located at latitude 16.8°S and longitude 99.5°E which put the center about 380 miles (610 km) south-southeast of the Cocos Islands.  Courtney was moving toward the west at 12 m.p.h. (19 km/h).  The maximum sustained wind speed was 90 m.p.h. (145 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 115 m.p.h. (185 km/h).  The minimum surface pressure was 973 mb.

Former Tropical Cyclone Ellie Causes Flooding in Western Australia

Former Tropical Cyclone Ellie was causing flooding in parts of Western Australia on Wednesday. At 7:00 a.m. EST on Wednesday the center of former Tropical Cyclone Ellie was located at latitude 17.8°S and longitude 123.3°E which put it about 70 miles (110 km) east of Broome, Australia. Ellie was moving toward the west at 3 m.p.h. (5 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 40 m.p.h. (65 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 50 m.p.h. (80 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 990 mb.

Former Tropical Cyclone Ellie continued to drop heavy rain over parts of Western Australia on Wednesday and major flooding was occurring along the Fitzroy River. Ellie dropped between 5.1 to 20.4 inches (200 to 800 mm) of rain over the Kimberley region during the past seven days. Major flooding was occurring at Fitzroy Crossing where the water level reached 52 feet (15.81 m). The Fitzroy River at Noonkanbah was 40 feet (12.31 m) and moderate flooding was occurring. The Fitzroy River was at 24 feet (7.26 m) at Willare and minor flooding was occurring.

Former Tropical Cyclone Ellie was also bringing gusty winds to parts of Western Australia. A weather station at Broome Port reported a sustained wind speed of 39 m.p.h. (63 km/h) and a gust of 49 m.p.h. (74 km/h). The weather station at Broome Port reported a wind gust of 59 m.p.h. (95 km/h) a few hours ago. A weather station in Derby reported a sustained wind speed of 28 m.p.h. (46 km/h) and a wind gust of 32 m.p.h. (52 km/h). The weather station in Derby reported a wind gust of 55 m.p.h. (89 km/h) a few hours ago.

The circulation around former Tropical Cyclone Ellie was still very well organized. The strongest winds were occurring in bands of thunderstorms over water and near the coast of Western Australia. Thunderstorms were occurring in bands in the southern and western sides of Ellie’s circulation. Bands in the northern and eastern sides of the circulation consisted primarily of showers and lower clouds. Storms near the center of Ellie generated upper level divergence that pumped mass away from the former tropical cyclone. The removal of mass allowed the surface pressure to remain near 990 mb even though the center of circulation was over land.

Former Tropical Cyclone Ellie is likely to remain nearly stationary near Broome during the next 24 hours. The bands of thunderstorms are likely to continue to drop locally heavy rain over parts of Western Australia. A Major Flood Warning remains in effect for the Fitzroy River. A Flood Warning is in effect for the West Kimberley District. A Flood Watch is in effect for the Sandy Desert.

Former Tropical Cyclone Ellie is likely to maintain its intensity during the next 24 hours. About half of Ellie’s circulation will be over over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 29˚C. It will be under the axis of an upper level ridge over northern Australia. The upper level winds are weak near the axis of the ridge and there will be little vertical wind shear. Former Tropical Cyclone Ellie is forecast to move toward the east-southeast later this week. Ellie is likely to weaken when the entire circulation moves back over land.

Tropical Cyclone Anika Moves along Western Australia Coast

Tropical Cyclone Anika moved along the coast of Western Australia on Sunday afternoon. At 1:00 p.m. EST on Sunday the center of Tropical Cyclone Anika was located at latitude 15.2°S and longitude 125.7°E which put it about 90 miles (145 km) southwest of Kalumburu, Australia. Anika was moving toward the southwest at 8 m.p.h (13 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 40 m.p.h. (65 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 50 m.p.h. (80 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 1000 mb.

Tropical Cyclone Anika moved along the coast of Western Australia on Sunday afternoon. The center of Anika’s circulation was still over land. The strongest winds were occurring in the northwestern quadrant of Tropical Cyclone Anika, which was still over water. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 70 miles (110 km) in the northwestern quadrant of Anika. The winds over land were blowing at less than tropical storm force.

A Warning was in effect for the portion of the coast from Troughton Island to Beagle Bay. The Warning included Cape Leveque and Derby. A Watch was in effect for the portion of the coast from Beagle Bay to Bidyadanga. The Watch included Broome.

The circulation around Tropical Cyclone Anika remained well organized even though the center was over land. The inner end of a rainband wrapped around the northern side of the center of Anika. The strongest thunderstorms were occurring in a bands in the western side of the circulation. There was also a strong band in the eastern periphery of Tropical Cyclone Anika. Bands in other parts of the circulation consisted primarily of showers and lower clouds. Storms near the center of circulation generated upper level divergence that pumped mass away from the tropical cyclone.

Tropical Cyclone Anika will move around the northwestern part of a high pressure system over Australia. The high pressure system will steer Anika toward the southwest during the next 24 hours. On its anticipated track Tropical Cyclone Anika will continue to move along the coast of Western Australia. Anika will bring gusty winds and locally heavy rain to places near the coast. Locally heavy rain could cause flash floods in some locations. Flood Warnings are in effect for the North Kimberly District and the West Kimberly District. Flood Watches are in effect for the Sandy Desert and for the Fitzroy River. The center of Anika could move back over water southwest of Kuri Bay on Monday.

Tropical Cyclone Anika is not likely to strengthen while the center is over land. However, since a portion of Anika’s circulation will be over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 30˚C, it could maintain its current intensity. Tropical Cyclone Anika will move through an area where the upper level winds are weak and there will be little vertical wind shear. Anika could strengthen again, if the center of circulation moves back over water.

Elsewhere over the South Indian Ocean, Tropical Cyclone Vernon weakened east-southeast of Diego Garcia. At 1:00 p.m. EST on Sunday the center of Tropical Cyclone Vernon was located at latitude 12.4°S and longitude 88.3°E which put it about 1140 miles (1835 km) east-southeast of Diego Garcia. Vernon was moving toward the east at 13 m.p.h (09 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 80 m.p.h. (130 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 100 m.p.h. (160 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 978 mb.