Issued at 11:15 am WST on Thursday 26 January 2012
A Cyclone WATCH has been declared for coastal areas from Whim Creek to Coral
Bay.
At 8:00 am WST Tropical Cyclone Iggy, Category 1 was estimated to be
850 kilometres northwest of Exmouth and
990 kilometres west northwest of Karratha and
moving southeast at 9 kilometres per hour towards the west Pilbara coast.
The cyclone is expected to intensify steadily as it approaches the coast.
Tropical Cyclone Iggy has recurved and is now moving southeast towards the west
Pilbara coast at about 9 kilometres per hour.
Gales are not expected in coastal communities on Thursday or Friday, however
gales may develop on the coast between Whim Creek and Coral Bay on Saturday.
Rainfall is likely to increase on Friday in coastal parts of the Pilbara, west
Kimberley and possibly on the west coast north of Cape Cuvier.
Strong winds, heavy rainfall and abnormally large swells will be experienced
near Christmas Island, the Kimberley and Pilbara coasts due to the influence of
a strong monsoonal flow.
FESA-State Emergency Service advises that there are no community alerts at
present.
Communities between Whim Creek and Coral Bay, including communities near
Karratha, Onslow and Exmouth, should listen for the next issue.
Details of Tropical Cyclone Iggy at 8:00 am WST:
.Centre located near...... 16.2 degrees South 108.8 degrees East
.Location accuracy........ within 85 kilometres
.Recent movement.......... towards the southeast at 9 kilometres per hour
.Wind gusts near centre... 100 kilometres per hour and intensifying
.Severity category........ 1
.Central pressure......... 986 hectoPascals
Tropical Cycline Iggy is Category 2 now and still expected to intensify. It is very slow moving at this point.
Jimmy
It seems like Tropical Cyclone Iggy is going to weaken after the next day or so. Here is a satellite image of it as probably Category 2.