Tag Archives: Wooramel River

Tropical Cyclone Mitchell Moves Over Western Australia

Tropical Cyclone Mitchell moved over the coast of Western Australia south of Carnarvon on Monday.  At 10:00 a.m. EST on Monday the center of Tropical Cyclone Mitchell was located at latitude 25.8°S and longitude 114.2°E which put the center about 70 miles (110 km) south-southeast of Carnarvon, Australia.  Mitchell was moving toward the south-southeast at 11 m.p.h. (17 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.

The Australian Bureau of Meteorology issued a Warning that was in effect for the portion of the coast from Carnarvon to Overlander Roadhouse.  The Warning included Denham.

Tropical Cyclone Mitchell was the equivalent of a tropical storm at the time it moved over the coast of Western Australia.  Winds to tropical storm force extended out 80 miles (130 km) from the center of Mitchell’s circulation.

A weather station in Carnarvon, Australia measured a sustained wind speed of 43 m.p.h. (69 km/h) and a wind gust of 63 m.p.h. (102 km/h).

Tropical Cyclone Mitchell will move around the southwestern part of a high pressure system that is over Australia.  The high pressure system will steer Mitchell toward the south-southeast during the next 24 hours.  On its anticipated track, Tropical Cyclone Mitchell will move inland over Western Australia.  The center of Mitchell’s circulation will pass east of Denham.

Tropical Cyclone Mitchell will bring gusty winds and locally heavy rain to the area between Denham and Overlander Roadhouse during the next few hours.  Heavy rain could cause floods in some locations.

Flood Watches are in effect for the Gascoyne River, the Avon River, the Moore River, the Hill River, the Greenough River, the Murchison River, the Wooramel River, the Linden-Minilya Rivers, and the Yarra Yarra Lakes District.

Tropical Cyclone Mitchell Passes Near Exmouth

Tropical Cyclone Mitchell was passing near Exmouth in Western Australia on Sunday morning.  At 10:00 a.m. EST on Sunday the center of Tropical Cyclone Mitchell was located at latitude 22.0°S and longitude 113.8°E which put the center about 25 miles (40 km) north-northwest of Exmouth, Australia.  Mitchell was moving toward the west-southwest at 9 m.p.h. (15 km/h).  The maximum sustained wind speed was 70 m.p.h. (110 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 85 m.p.h. (135 km/h).  The minimum surface pressure was 983 mb.

The Australian Bureau of Meteorology issued a Warning that was in effect for the portion of the coast from Onslow to Overlander Roadhouse.  The Warning included Exmouth, Carnarvon, and Denham.  The Warning extended inland to include Gascoyne Junction.

Even though the center of Tropical Cyclone Mitchell remained offshore, Mitchell was producing strong winds along the coast of Western Australia.  A weather station at the Onslow airport measured a sustained wind speed of 59 m.p.h. (95 km/h) and a wind gust of 75 m.p.h. (120 km/h).

Tropical Cyclone Mitchell weakened on Saturday night even though the center of Mitchell remained over water.  Southeasterly winds blowing into the southwestern part of Mitchell’s circulation appeared to pull drier air from the interior of Western Australia into the western side of the circulation.  The drier air caused many of the thunderstorms in the southwestern part of Tropical Cyclone Mitchell to weaken.  Thunderstorms were still occurring in bands in the other parts of Mitchell’s circulation.  Since there were fewer thunderstorms near the center of Mitchell, those thunderstorms generated less upper level divergence.  Less upper level divergence meant that the thunderstorms pumped less mass away from the tropical cyclone.  The removal of less mass caused the surface pressure to increase.

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

Tropical Cyclone Mitchell will move through an environment that will be unfavorable for intensification during the next 24 hours.  Mitchell will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 29°C.  However, it will move under the western end of an upper level ridge that is over Australia.  The upper level ridge will produce northwesterly winds that will blow toward the top of Mitchell’s circulation.  Those winds will cause the vertical wind shear to increase.  In addition, Tropical Cyclone Mitchell is likely to continue to pull drier air into its circulation.  The combination of more vertical wind shear and drier air will cause Tropical Cyclone Mitchell to weaken slowly during the next 24 hours.

Tropical Cyclone Mitchell will move around the western end of a high pressure system that is over Australia.  The high pressure system will steer Mitchell toward the south during the next 24 hours.  On its anticipated track, the center of Tropical Cyclone Mitchell will make landfall on the coast of Western Australia near Cape Cuvier and Carnarvon in 12 hours.

Tropical Cyclone Mitchell will bring strong winds and heavy rain parts of Western Australia near Cape Cuvier and Carnarvon.  Heavy rain is likely to cause floods in some locations.

Flood Watches are in effect for the Gascoyne River, the Ashburton River, the Fortescue River, the Greenough River, the Murchison River, the Wooramel River, the Pilbara Coastal Rivers, and the Yarra Yarra Lakes District.

Tropical Cyclone Mitchell Intensifies to Equivalent of Hurricane/Typhoon

Tropical Cyclone Mitchell intensified to the equivalent of a hurricane/typhoon as it moved near the coast of Western Australia on Saturday morning.  At 10:00 a.m. EST on Saturday the center of Tropical Cyclone Mitchell was located at latitude 20.3°S and longitude 116.4°E which put the center about 50 miles (80 km) north-northwest of Karratha, Australia.  Mitchell was moving toward the southwest at 12 m.p.h. (19 km/h).  The maximum sustained wind speed was 85 m.p.h. (135 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 105 m.p.h. (165 km/h).  The minimum surface pressure was 973 mb.

The Australian Bureau of Meteorology issued a Warning that was in effect for the portion of the coast of Western Australia from Whim Creek to Coral Bay.  The Warning included Karratha, Dampier, Onslow, and Exmouth.

A Watch was in effect for the portion of the coast of Western Australia from Coral Bay to Carnarvon.

Tropical Cyclone Mitchell intensified to the equivalent of a hurricane/typhoon on Saturday morning.  The inner end of a rainband wrapped around the center of Michell’s circulation.  An eye appeared to be forming at the center of Tropical Cyclone Mitchell.  The eye was surrounded by a ring of thunderstorms and the strongest winds were occurring that ring of storms.  Bands of showers and thunderstorms were revolving around the center of Mitchell’s circulation.  Storms near the center of Mitchell generated upper level divergence that pumped mass away from the tropical cyclone.  The removal of mass caused the surface pressure to decrease.

The size of the circulation around Tropical Cyclone Mitchell increased when Mitchell intensified.  Winds to hurricane/typhoon force extended out 40 miles (65 km) from the center of Mitchell’s circulation.  Winds to tropical storm force extended out 100 miles (175 km) from the center of Tropical Cyclone Mitchell.

Tropical Cyclone Mitchell will move through an environment very favorable for intensification during the next 24 hours.  Mitchell will then move over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are 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 Mitchell will intensify during the next 24 hours. .

Tropical Cyclone Mitchell will move around the northwestern part of a high pressure system that is over Australia.  The high pressure system will steer Mitchell toward the southwest during the next 24 hours.  On its anticipated track, Tropical Cyclone Mitchell will make landfall in the Exmouth Gulf in less than 24 hours.

The center of Tropical Cyclone Mitchell is likely to make landfall on the coast of Western Australia between Onslow and Exmouth.  Mitchell will bring strong winds and heavy rain to locations near the Exmouth Gulf.  Heavy rain is likely to cause floods in some locations.

Flood Watches are in effect for the Gascoyne River, the Ashburton River, the Fortescue River, the Fitzroy River, the Greenough River, the Murchison River, the Wooramel River, the Pilbara Coastal Rivers, and the Yarra Yarra Lakes District.