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Seroja maintains intensity, likely to be category three when it makes landfall
By Daile Cross
Though it had been thought that tropical cyclone Seroja would reduce in severity from a category 3 cyclone to category 2 before making landfall, the latest advice shows it has instead maintained its intensity over the past few hours and will likely remain category three when it passes over land.
A category 3 cyclone usually means a high risk of roof and structural damage and power failures.
A cyclone at this category will have very destructive winds with typical gusts over open flat land of 165-224 kilometres per hour.
The highest level of cyclone is category 5, which means widespread destruction and gusts to 280 kilometres per hour.
WATCH LIVE: The cyclone approaches the coast
Geraldton gets ready for destructive winds
By Daile Cross
There are reports of power outages in Geraldton already, with the cyclone’s most destructive winds expected to hit the town at about 9pm.
It is highly unusual for a cylone to reach as far south as Geraldton.
People near Geraldton may see gales as early as 6pm WST and are likely to experience a brief period of destructive winds around 9pm. The Department of Fire and Emergency Services said if the cyclone’s track shifts a little south from the current forecast, Geraldton would experience a longer period of more intense winds.
Dangerous weather imminent as Seroja closes in on coast
By Daile Cross
The Bureau of Meteorology has issued a new warning for people on the coast between Carnarvon and Lancelin, with a period of dangerous weather now imminent and the cyclone moving very quickly at about 45km/h.
The impact zone is expected to extend inland across areas of the southern Gascoyne and Central Wheatbelt overnight.
Coastal and island communities in the cyclone’s path can expect a period of unusually high tides, destructive winds and intense rainfall, the BoM said.
Seroja is expected to cross the coast between 7pm and 10pm (WST), most likely between the towns of Kalbarri and Geraldton.
Shark Bay is now experiencing damaging wind gusts.
Gusts of up to 165 kilometres per hour are being experienced near the centre of the cyclone. Wind gusts of this strength are very rare for the Central West coast.
The worst conditions at any one location are expected to last around three hours.
Kalbarri locals worry as no evacuation centre available
By Lauren Pilat
A category three cyclone heading their way is a major concern for people in the tourist town of Kalbarri because buildings in the area are not made to the standard to withstand a cyclone.
Kalbarri SES manager Steve Cable said there were no safe buildings able to withstand the damaging winds that Seroja was expected to bring from 4pm Sunday.
Mr Cable, who used to run the Karratha SES unit said further north a similar cyclone wouldn’t be much concern but in Kalbarri it was different.
Gusts are expected to hit from around 4pm.
“A category 2 up north wouldn’t be a big concern but down here it’s a major concern, let alone a category 3, because the buildings aren’t built for it so what’s going to happen, I can’t tell you,” he said.
“It’s a case of now waiting to see if we wear the bullet or not … we can’t do anything now but wait.”
Residents have aired their frustration about no appropriate evacuation centre being available for them.
“There’s a fair bit of frustration among the people, it was a decision made by the people who look after the cyclone emergency centres because putting people in a building that isn’t sufficiently rated would be deemed unsafe,” Mr Cable said.
“That’s left us with no evacuation centre, until the aftermath, which will be for people who are basically homeless. It’s something that needs addressing for the future.”
Kalbarri is expected to be hit by severe winds from 8pm, with the cyclone crossing the area at about 11pm.
“It’s moving fairly quickly so we would estimate between 2-3am the majority of the cyclone would be gone,” he said. “We’ll then be dealing with whatever the aftermath, whatever that happens to be.”
‘Don’t even think about coming out until tomorrow’
By Emma Young
“Weather conditions will deteriorate rapidly for people in the path of the cyclone,” BoM’s James Ashby said.
The peak would last for about three hours.
As this type of weather event had not occurred for decades, there was increased risk for unprepared communities.
He said people in the red alert area must stay inside and activate their emergency plan.
Now was the time to make sure the emergency kit was ready.
For the next five or six hours, an AM radio would be crucial as the internet and phones may not work.
From 4pm impacts will begin in the red alert area.
Do not risk your life by driving into flooded areas.
Emergency Management Australia liaison officers will be arriving tomorrow with aircraft in Exmouth from tomorrow.
But it may not be until mid-tomorrow that authorities would know what damage has occurred.
Police Commissioner Chris Dawson said: “Now we need that assistance from the community. Stay inside tonight. Don’t even think about coming out until tomorrow. And make sure you are listening to that AM radio with batteries.
“Ensure you do not move while this state of emergency is current.”
He said one person had already lost a life yesterday in Coral Bay from an incident with a downed power pole.
WATCH: Water creeps close, butterflies escape as cyclone bears down
By Emma Young
An odd stream of butterflies has emerged in Monkey Mia as locals wait and watch for Cyclone Seroja to make landfall in half an hour, and the ocean laps at their doorsteps.
The local providing WAtoday with this footage said he had never seen anything like this number or variety of butterflies before.
‘Like nothing we have seen in decades’: Premier Mark McGowan
By Emma Young
Premier Mark McGowan says this is a very serious situation.
“It’s like nothing we have seen in decades,” he said.
Department of Fire and Emergency Services personnel have been deployed to Geraldton.
A team is preparing for all contingencies pre and post-impact with Marine Rescue Geraldton, volunteer and career bushfire brigades also helping.
Rough water off the tourist attraction of Monkey Mia.
“This is a very large storm posing a serious threat,” Mr McGowan said.
“Lives and homes are at risk. We expect serious damage.
“I want everyone to stay safe.”
James Ashby from the Bureau of Meteorology said the cyclone was now to the west of Dirk Hartog Island and it was still expected to make landfall between Kalbarri and Geraldton as a Category 2.
It was expected to be a fast event, with the cyclone moving at 50 kilometres per hour.
This meant flash flooding. Storm surges were another issue, particularly for Shark Bay and Kalbarri.
A message from the Bureau of Meteorology
By Lauren Pilat
Authorities are now predicting wind gusts will reach 165 kilometres per hour.
People on the coast between Carnarvon and Lancelin are warned that a period of dangerous weather will develop this afternoon and into the evening.
BoM Meteorologist Jackson Browne said coastal and island communities in the cyclone’s path could expect a period of unusually high tides, destructive winds and intense rainfall.
“Seroja’s unusual trajectory so far south from the west coast poses a greater risk than usual due to communities being unfamiliar with the destructive force of a tropical cyclone,” he said.
“Gusts of 125kilometres per hour may extend inland as far as the northern Wheatbelt, equivalent to a rare intense winter storm.”
Gusts of 100 kilometres per hour are likely to travel through Esperance.
Heavy rain is expected to fall hard and fast at rates only typically having a 10 to 2 per cent chance of occurring in a year and may produce flash flooding, Mr Browne said.
“Given the fast movement of TC Seroja, destructive winds and heavy rain will come on very quickly and last about three hours,” he said. “The area at greatest risk from Denham to Geraldton.”
Rough, high tide engulfs One Mile Jetty
By Lauren Pilat
Locals of Carnarvon, about 10 hours’ drive north of Perth, watched on as parts of the historic One Mile Jetty were engulfed in water on Sunday afternoon after getting “hammered” by high tides.
Resident Belinda Halden posted images to social media showing the ‘Shed’ and parts of the well known jetty swallowed.
Carnarvon shed under water.Credit:Belinda Halden
Ms Halden said while there were a few wind gusts and some heavy rain, she was lucky to be on the outside of the cyclone.
Residents in response to her post reflected, saying it was the “end of an era” with some having learnt to fish off the jetty as children.
The timber structure had stretched out over the mangroves and once provided a gateway to China, Singapore, and Indonesia, allowing the exporting of wool, sandalwood, and pearls.
The jetty had been closed to the public due to disrepair since 2017.
The site is run by the Carnarvon Heritage Group and its chairman, Nationals MP Vince Catania, had hoped to revitalise the jetty precinct and applied to state and federal governments for funding.
In 2019 it was estimated restoration of the 124-year-old jetty would cost $42 million.
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2021-04-11 10:18:35Z
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