Severe Tropical Cyclone Kara

[Kiwi]

TROPICAL CYCLONE ADVICE NUMBER 21
Issued at 2:45 pm WST on Tuesday, 27 March 2007
BY THE BUREAU OF METEOROLOGY
TROPICAL CYCLONE WARNING CENTRE PERTH

A CYCLONE WARNING for a SEVERE CATEGORY 3 CYCLONE is current for coastal areas from Whim Creek to Bidyadanga.

The CYCLONE WARNING between Roebourne and Whim Creek has been cancelled.

At 2:00 pm WST Severe Tropical Cyclone Kara was estimated to be
190 kilometres north northwest of Port Hedland and
300 kilometres west northwest of Wallal,
moving east southeast at 20 kilometres per hour.

Severe Tropical Cyclone Kara is now showing marked signs of weakening and is expected to continue to weaken overnight. If Kara maintains an east southeasterly track it is likely to cross Eighty Mile beach during Wednesday.

GALES may develop in coastal communities overnight tonight or during Wednesday as the system moves closer to the coast. Kara is not expected to cause destructive winds on the coast.

HEAVY RAIN may cause areas of flooding in the east Pilbara and west Kimberley.

Tropical Cyclone Advices - System 1 (WA)

[Grant]

Tropical cyclone Kara is forecast to strike Australia at about 18:00 GMT on 27 March. Data supplied by the US Navy and Air Force Joint Typhoon Warning Center suggest that the point of landfall will be near 19.2 S, 119.2 E. Kara is expected to bring 1-minute maximum sustained winds to the region of around 148 km/h (92 mph). Wind gusts in the area may be considerably higher.

According to the Saffir-Simpson damage scale the potential property damage and flooding from a storm of Kara's strength (category 1) at landfall includes:

• Storm surge generally 1.2-1.5 metres (4-5 feet) above normal.
• No real damage to building structures.
• Damage primarily to unanchored mobile homes, shrubbery, and trees.
• Some damage to poorly constructed signs.
• Some coastal road flooding and minor pier damage.

There is also the potential for flooding further inland due to heavy rain.

The information above is provided for guidance only and should not be used to make life or death decisions or decisions relating to property. Anyone in the region who is concerned for their personal safety or property should contact their official national weather agency or warning centre for advice.

This alert is provided by Tropical Storm Risk (TSR) which is sponsored by Benfield, Royal & SunAlliance, Crawford & Company and University College London (UCL). TSR acknowledges the support of the UK Met Office.

[Grant]

TOP PRIORITY

TROPICAL CYCLONE ADVICE NUMBER 23
Issued at 9:00 pm WST on Tuesday, 27 March 2007
BY THE BUREAU OF METEOROLOGY
TROPICAL CYCLONE WARNING CENTRE PERTH

A CYCLONE WARNING for a CATEGORY 2 CYCLONE is current for coastal areas from
Pardoo to Bidyadanga.

The CYCLONE WARNING between Whim Creek and Pardoo has been cancelled.

At 8:00 pm WST Tropical Cyclone Kara was estimated to be
170 kilometres north northeast of Port Hedland and
180 kilometres west northwest of Wallal,
moving east southeast at 20 kilometres per hour.

Tropical Cyclone Kara has weakened considerably over the last 6 hours and is
expected to continue to weaken overnight. If Kara maintains an east
southeasterly track it is likely to cross Eighty Mile beach during Wednesday
morning.

GALES with gusts to 110 kilometres per hour may develop in coastal communities
during Wednesday morning as the system moves closer to the coast. Kara is not
expected to cause destructive winds on the coast.

HEAVY RAIN may cause areas of flooding in the far eastern Pilbara and western
Kimberley.

Details of Tropical Cyclone Kara at 8:00 pm WST.

Location of centre : within 55 kilometres of
latitude 18.9 south longitude 119.2 east
Recent movement : east southeast at 20 kilometres per hour
Central Pressure : 972 hectopascals
Maximum wind gusts : 150 kilometres per hour near the centre.
Severity category : 2

FESA-State Emergency Service advises of the following community alerts:
YELLOW ALERT: People in or near coastal communities between Pardoo and Sandfire
Roadhouse, including Pardoo, Wallal and Sandfire Roadhouse should be taking
action in preparation for the cyclones arrival.
BLUE ALERT: People in or near coastal communities between Sandfire Roadhouse to
Bidyadanga should commence taking precautions.
ALL CLEAR WITH CAUTION: People in communities near Port Hedland, South Hedland
and Whim Creek are advised that the Blue Alert has been lifted.