A red alert has been issued for people between Carnarvon and Northampton to shelter immediately, as Tropical Cyclone Seroja accelerates towards Western Australia's coast.
Key points:
- Cyclone Seroja is forecast to cross the WA coast tonight
- Gusts of up to 155km/hr are expected at the cyclone's peak
- Flash flooding is forecast in some areas due to intense rainfall
Emergency services said the alert does not include the Carnarvon townsite, but does include the towns of Denham, Kalbarri, Northampton, Port Gregory and Horrocks.
The centre of Cyclone Seroja is expected to cross the coast between Kalbarri and Geraldton at around 9:00pm, with intense weather expected ahead of that.
The Department of Communities has opened evacuation centres in Port Denison, Carnarvon and Denham.
LoadingThe cyclone, which is currently a category two system, is forecast to bring destructive winds and possible flash flooding to the coast this afternoon.
A yellow alert is in place for people in or near Minilya Roadhouse to Carnarvon inclusive, and from Kalbarri to Lancelin inclusive.
It extends inland to include the shires of Northampton, Chapman Valley, Morawa, Greater Geraldton, Mingenew, Three Springs and Perenjori, and the townsites of Mullewa, Coorow and Carnamah.
People in those areas need to take action and prepare to shelter.
Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) incident controller Graham Sears told ABC Radio people subject to a red alert should shelter in a place with four solid walls and minimal windows.
Mr Sears said people should also listen to the radio and check for emergency updates, avoiding movement until an all-clear had been issued.
"We're asking people not to take a peek out and go for a wander until we issue the all-clear," he said.
DFES said there may be some disruption to essential services such as power, telecommunications and water, but authorities were working to limit the disruption.
The Department of Communities has asked some residents in Denham to evacuate.
Tropical Cyclone Seroja may intensify to a category three system, but is forecast to drop to a category two before it crosses the coast.
Gusts of up to 155kph forecast
Bureau of Meteorology WA manager James Ashley said it was rare for a cyclone to travel as far south as Denham and Geraldton.
Strong wind gusts and rain are expected to begin in the Shark Bay area early this afternoon, reaching Kalbarri between 4:00pm and 5:00pm.
"People in coastal paths — particularly in that Shark Bay, Kalbarri area — should prepare for the onset of a storm surge as the system crosses the coast, which is the piling up of water in the onshore flow associated with the system," Mr Ashley said.
"It can push the ocean across low-lying coastal areas and produce flooding issues."
Supplied: BOM
)The system is expected to bring damaging winds of up to 155 kilometres per hour at the cyclone's centre, along with 50 to 100 millimetres of rain.
Mr Ashley said the worst conditions are expected to last for about three hours at any given location.
The northern side of the cyclone's track will bear the brunt of dangerous winds and heavy rain, he added.
"Because it's moving so fast, the onset of these conditions will be quite sudden for people," Mr Ashley said.
Gusts of up to 100 kilometres an hour are likely between Minilya Roadhouse and Kalbarri during the afternoon.
Ex-Tropical Cyclone Odette weakened overnight, and is set to weaken further after making contact with Cyclone Seroja.
https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMib2h0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmFiYy5uZXQuYXUvbmV3cy8yMDIxLTA0LTExL3dhLXRvd25zLXByZXBhcmUtZm9yLWN5Y2xvbmUtc2Vyb2phLXRvLWJyaW5nLWRlc3RydWN0aXZlLXdpbmRzLzEwMDA2MTM1MtIBKGh0dHBzOi8vYW1wLmFiYy5uZXQuYXUvYXJ0aWNsZS8xMDAwNjEzNTI?oc=5
2021-04-11 04:02:12Z
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