Severe Tropical Cyclone Veronica Issued at 3:09 pm AWST Thursday 21 March 2019. Refer to Tropical Cyclone Advice Number 5.

Warning issued for Pilbara coast as Severe Tropical Cyclone Veronica (Category 4) tracks towards the coast. A severe impact along the Pilbara coast is likely over the weekend.

Areas affected:

Warning zone: Pardoo to Mardie including Port Hedland, Karratha and Barrow Island.

Watch zone: Pardoo to Wallal and inland Pilbara including Pannawonica and Marble Bar.

Cancelled zones: None.

Details of Severe Tropical Cyclone Veronica at 2:00 pm AWST:

Intensity: category 4, sustained winds near the centre of 195 kilometres per hour with wind gusts to 270 kilometres per hour. 
Location: within 30 kilometres of 17.0 degrees South, 117.5 degrees East , 385 kilometres north northwest of Port Hedland and 420 kilometres north of Karratha . 
Movement: south southwest at 9 kilometres per hour .

Severe Tropical Cyclone Veronica has rapidly developed into a Category 4 system. The cyclone should continue its south to southwest track today and tomorrow before taking a more south southeast track on Saturday. While it is possible the cyclone may weaken before reaching the Pilbara coast, a severe impact is likely.

Hazards:

GALES with gusts to 100 kilometres per hour may develop between Pardoo and Mardie from as early as Friday evening and may extend further east to Wallal and adjacent inland areas later on Saturday. DESTRUCTIVE WINDS with gusts exceeding 125 kilometres per hour are forecast to develop along the coast between Dampier and Pardoo later Saturday. VERY DESTRUCTIVE WINDS with gusts in excess of 165 kilometres per hour possible near the cyclone centre.

Widespread very heavy rainfall conducive to MAJOR FLOODING is likely along parts of the Pilbara coast over the weekend.

People along the Pilbara coast are warned of the potential for a VERY DANGEROUS STORM TIDE as the cyclone approaches the coast over the weekend. Tides are likely to rise significantly above the normal high tide mark with DAMAGING WAVES and VERY DANGEROUS COASTAL INUNDATION.

Recommended Action:

DFES advises of the following community alerts:

BLUE ALERT: People in or near communities between Mardie and Wallal, including Port Hedland, South Hedland, Wickham, Roebourne, Point Samson, Karratha, Dampier Barrow Island, Pannawonica and Marble Bar need to prepare for cyclonic weather and organise an emergency kit including first aid kit, torch, portable radio, spare batteries, food and water.

Details: 

Tropical Cyclone information is also available in MetEye

Next Issue

The next Forecast Track Map will be issued by 6:00 pm AWST Thursday