T28D
28th Jan 2011, 04:10
IDW24100Australian Government Bureau of MeteorologyWestern AustraliaTropical Cyclone Warning CentreMedia: The Standard Emergency Warning Signal should NOT be used with thiswarning.PRIORITYTROPICAL CYCLONE ADVICE NUMBER 34 Issued at 12:14 pm WST on Friday 28 January 2011CYCLONE BIANCA EXPECTED TO IMPACT COMMUNITIES IN THE SOUTH WEST OF WESTERNAUSTRALIA ON SUNDAYBianca will weaken significantly before it reaches the South West but residentsshould prepare for: . DAMAGING WINDS with gusts to 120 kilometres per hour. . VERY ROUGH SEAS and DANGEROUS SURF CONDITIONS . COASTAL EROSION and FLOODING OF LOW LYING COASTAL AREAS . SEVERE to EXTREME FIRE DANGERS . HEAVY RAINFALL south of the cyclone with possible LOCALISED FLOODING.A Cyclone WATCH has been declared for coastal areas from Jurien Bay to Albany,including Perth, Bunbury and Busselton.At 11:00 am WST Severe Tropical Cyclone Bianca, Category 3 was estimated to be 510 kilometres west southwest of Exmouth and465 kilometres west northwest of Carnarvon andmoving southwest at 33 kilometres per hour.Severe Tropical Cyclone Bianca continues to move in a southwest direction awayfrom the northwest of the state. Strong and gusty winds are still possible inareas between Cape Preston and Carnarvon though winds will ease from the eastduring the day.Severe Tropical Cyclone Bianca is expected to gradually weaken as it takes amore southerly track overnight. On Saturday Bianca will move in a southeasterlydirection towards the southwest corner of the state while weakening steadily.However there is a significant risk that Bianca will maintain tropical cycloneintensity as it approaches the coast early on Sunday. If this happens, coastalareas between Jurien Bay and Albany could experience DAMAGING WINDS with guststo 120 kilometres per hour. Wind gusts to 100 kilometres per hour may beexperienced through inland parts southwest of a line Jurien Bay to Albany.On Sunday tides between Jurien Bay and Cape Naturaliste are likely to risesignificantly above the normal high tide mark with VERY ROUGH SEAS, DANGEROUSSURF and FLOODING of LOW LYING COASTAL AREAS. SIGNIFICANT COASTAL EROSION ispossible. HEAVY RAINFALL is also possible on the southern side of the system.LOCALISED FLOODING is possible but extensive flooding is not expected.VERY HIGH to SEVERE FIRE DANGERS are likely near the west coast on Sunday.EXTREME to CATASTROPHIC FIRE DANGERS are likely across inland areas south of aline from Geraldton to Leonora to Israelite Bay on Sunday.FESA State Emergency Service (SES) advises that people should start planningfor bad weather and listen for further advice during today.Details of Severe Tropical Cyclone Bianca at 11:00 am WST:.Centre located near...... 23.3 degrees South 109.4 degrees East.Location accuracy........ within 35 kilometres.Recent movement.......... towards the southwest at 33 kilometres per hour.Wind gusts near centre... 220 kilometres per hour .Severity category........ 3.Central pressure......... 953 hectoPascalsThe next advice will be issued by 3:00 pm WST Friday 28 January.Cyclone advices and State Emergency Service Community Alerts are available bydialling 1300 659 210 A map showing the track of the cyclone is available at:Current Tropical Cyclones (http://www.bom.gov.au/weather/cyclone)