13 Apr 2023 | 07:15 PM UTC
Australia: TC Ilsa tracking southeastward across Western Australia as of early April 14 following landfall over Kimberley-Pilbara coast late April 13 /update 5
TC Ilsa tracking southeast across W.A., Australia, as of early April 14, following landfall over Kimberley-Pilbara coast late April 13.
Event
Tropical Cyclone Ilsa is tracking east-southeastward across Western Australia early April 14 after making landfall over the Kimberley-Pilbara coast as a Category 5 storm late April 13. As of 01:54 AWST, the storm's center of circulation was approximately 605 km (375 miles) east-northeast of Learmonth, Western Australia. Forecast models indicate that the storm will continue to track east-southeastward while weakening into a Category 3 tropical cyclone through the morning of April 14. The storm will then weaken rapidly while tracking east-southeastward across central Western Australia before dissipating in the southwestern part of Northern Territory early April 15. Some uncertainty remains in the track and intensity forecast; changes could occur in the coming days.
As of early April 13, the Australian Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) has issued a cyclone warnings for areas south of Broome to Whim Creek, including Port Hedland, and extending inland as far as Parnngurr, including Nullagine, Marble Bar, and Telfer. A cyclone watch is in place for inland areas from Parnngurr to Kiwirrkurra and southwest of Balgo. Emergency WA has issued a yellow cyclone alert for residents between Bidyadanga and Whim Creek, including Port Hedland, extending inland to include Marble Bar, Nullagine, and Telfer in the Kimberley and Pilbara and a blue cyclone alert for residents south of Broome to Bidyadanga, not including Bidyadanga, and inland areas to Parnngurr and Kiwirrkurra in the Kimberley and Pilbara.
The very destructive core of Ilsa, with extreme gusts of up to 275 kph (171 mph), is impacting the coast between west of Bidyadanga and De Grey as of early April 14 before continuing inland during the afternoon of April 14; destructive winds with gusts up to 155 kph (96 mph) are occurring along the coast between Wallal Downs and Port Hedland, not including Port Headland, and are extending inland as far as to the east of Marble Bar and can extend further inland to Telfe. Damaging winds with gusts to 90 kph (56 mph) are occurring along the coast south of Bidyadanga to Port Hedland, including Port Hedland, and extend inland to Marble Bar, Telfer, Parnngurr, and Kiwirrkurra by Friday evening.
Heavy rainfall and squally thunderstorms are likely in the path of the storm, and between 20-40 cm (8-16 inches) of rainfall are forecast through at least April 15 near where Ilsa crosses the coast. Abnormally high tides are possible about the coast between Broome and Port Hedland through April 14. A flood watch is also in place for the west Kimberley and De Grey rivers as well as catchments in Salt Lake, Sandy Desert, Warburton, and Western Desert districts. Authorities have also issued flood warnings for the De Grey River Catchment and Sandy Desert.
Authorities have shipped in food and fuel to last Bidyadanga, Western Australia's largest remote Aboriginal community, for seven days. Several residents requiring medical treatment have been evacuated to Broome. A large number of people in Broome remain homeless following the catastrophic flooding in January; a lack of shelter is likely to exacerbate Ilsa's impact. Pre-emptive evacuations are ongoing across multiple communities in the northwestern region of Western Australia, including Eighty Mile, Punmu, Telfar, and Wallal Downs. Holidaymakers and people traveling in caravans between Port Hedland and Broome have been evacuated. Authorities in Port Hedland have set up evacuation shelters in the town. Further voluntary evacuations are likely across other communities. No mandatory evacuation orders have been issued for entire districts, although authorities are facilitating pre-emptive evacuation operations. Authorities are clearing boats from all berths in the inner harbor of the Port Hedland Port, including iron ore carriers. Roadhouses along the Great Northern Highway are closed, including in Pardoo. The Great Northern Highway between Pippingarra Road and Broome Road, as well as several other smaller roads, are closed. Authorities have warned that the North West Coastal Highway could be closed between Port Hedland and Broome due to flooding.
Sustained heavy rainfall could trigger flooding in low-lying areas and those with easily overwhelmed drainage systems. If weather conditions prove hazardous, localized evacuations, flash flooding, and landslides are possible.
The inclement weather could trigger localized business, transport, and utility disruptions and render some bridges or roadways impassable. Flight disruptions at regional airports and temporary closures of ports are also possible. Exposure to raw sewage and other hazardous materials mixed with floodwaters poses a severe health threat.
Advice
Activate contingency plans in areas where officials forecast tropical cyclone conditions. Heed any evacuation orders that may be issued. Use extreme caution in low-lying coastal areas and near streams, creeks, and other waterways due to the potential for severe flooding and storm surge. Stockpile water, batteries, and other essentials in advance. Charge battery-powered devices when electricity is available; restrict the use of cellular phones to emergencies only. Power down mobile devices when not in use. Keep important documents and necessary medications in waterproof containers. Observe strict food and water precautions, as municipalities could issue boil-water advisories following flooding events. Take precautions against insect- and waterborne diseases in the coming weeks.
Plan accordingly for protracted commercial, transport, and logistics disruptions in areas in the path of the storm, especially if vital infrastructure is damaged. Seek updated information on road conditions before driving or routing shipments through areas where flooding has occurred. Confirm flights before checking out of hotels or driving to the airport; clearing passenger backlogs may take several days in some locations.
Resources
Joint Typhoon Warning Center
Australian Bureau of Meteorology
Emergency WA